Keshav Maharaj was the hero as he pushed South Africa to a thrilling one-wicket win against Pakistan to move top of the World Cup leaderboard on Friday.
Aiden Markram scored a crucial 91 runs from 93 balls as South Africa broke their 24-year World Cup jinx against Pakistan and moved closer to securing a place in the semi-finals with their fifth win in six matches.
With the Proteas nine down, tailender Maharaj swept the winning boundary with 16 balls remaining to seal the win and send his side top of the table.
Set 271 to win, the South African lost opener Quinton de Kock – the World Cup’s leading points scorer – and captain Temba Bavuma slumped to 67 for two.
It was 136 for four after Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen fell for 21 and 12 respectively, as Pakistan fought hard against a batting unit that has been in formidable form this tournament.
When David Miller and Marco Jansen – moments after launching Haris Rauf to the ground for six – departed, the Proteas still needed 36 to win with four wickets to spare.
Usama Mir then got the prized wicket of Markram for 91, and he was quickly followed back to the dressing rooms by Gerald Coetzee, behind Shaheen Shah Afridi (three for 45), with 21 now the target.
A brilliant one-handed catch and bowl from Rauf did it for Lungi Ndidi with 11 runs required and three runs later number 11 Tabraiz Shamsi survived the smallest leg-before review.
But Maharaj made an invaluable seven that didn’t work out, including the winning boundary, to get South Africa over the line.
Earlier, when Pakistan captain Babar Azam departed for 50, his side were tottering at 141 for five.
But a run-a-ball 52 from Saud Shakeel led the counter-attack along with Shadab Khan, who made 43.
However, Shamsi finished with four for 60 as Pakistan were dismissed for 270 off 46.4 overs.
South Africa’s fifth win takes them to the top of the table, level on 10 points, while hosts India have played a match more, while Pakistan’s semi-final hopes hang by a thread after a fourth defeat .
The last stand
What’s next?
The Cricket World Cup continues on Saturday with a double-header pitting Australia against New Zealand (5.30am on Sky Sports Cricket, starts 6am) and the Netherlands against Bangladesh (9am on Sky Sports Mix, starts 9.30am).
England are next in action against hosts India on Sunday (8am on Sky Sports Cricket, start 8.30am), with their hopes of qualification on the line. Sri Lanka are next in action on Monday and can boost their semi-final hopes against Afghanistan (8am on Sky Sports Cricket, start 8.30am). Stream the Cricket World Cup and more top sports with NOW.