Pakistan kept their slender Twenty20 World Cup ambitions alive with a dramatic 33-run victory over South Africa on Thursday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
South Africa, who are still on track to reach the semifinals, came out swinging after a rain delay reduced their goal from 186 to 142, requiring them to score 73 runs in five overs.
But the asking rate was too high, and they were all out for 108 after an enthralling contest that featured adverse weather, superb bowling, and dropped catches.
Pakistan can still qualify for the World Cup semifinals if they win their final match against Bangladesh and other outcomes go in their favor.
However, they must hope that both India and South Africa would lose their last matches.
Earlier, Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan’s 82-run partnership rescued Pakistan with the bat.
Iftikhar, who entered the crease with Pakistan in dire straits at 43-4, blasted 51 runs off 35 balls, while Shadab smashed 52 runs off 22 as Pakistan’s innings concluded at 185-9.
As the South African bowling assault decimated Pakistan’s top order, the team’s elimination from the competition appeared inevitable.
But Iftikhar remained resolute, sharing a 52-run partnership with Mohammad Nawaz before he and Shadab dismantled the renowned South African attack to increase the score to 177-6 from 95-5.
Quinton de Kock chipped Shaheen Afridi to Mohammad Haris at midwicket for a duck on the final delivery of the first over, as the Pakistanis started brightly with the ball after a good batting performance.
In his second over, Afridi removed the threatening Rilee Rossouw for seven, caught by Naseem Shah on the third-man boundary, leaving South Africa with a score of 16-2.
South African skipper Temba Bavuma has struggled with form throughout this tournament, but he appeared in fine form as he scored 36 runs. Together, he and Aiden Markram brought the score to 65.
Shadab altered the game in his first over, catching Bavuma behind the wicket and bowled Markram through the gate one run later, leaving South Africa with a score of 66-4.
With nine overs remaining, the players were forced to leave the field due to the intensifying rain, which had been intermittently dropping lightly throughout the match.
When they returned, South Africa required 73 runs in five overs, an impossible aim.
