Pakistan have ensured a thrilling finish to the Super 12s stage in Group 2 after an inspired performance from all-rounder Shadab Khan ensured a dominant 33-run win over South Africa in a rain-shortened SCG clash.
Shadab blitzed four sixes en route to a 20-ball half-century that steered Pakistan to an imposing 9/185 from their 20 overs, before his canny leg-breaks winkled out Proteas pair Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma within his first three balls at a crucial stage of the run chase.
South Africa finished at 9/108, 33 short of a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern adjusted total.
The result leaves Pakistan on four points in the World Cup table, still one adrift of the Proteas and two of India. They will now need one of those two teams to lose or have a washout against the Netherlands and Zimbabwe respectively on Sunday, while also beating Bangladesh on the same day; but they have at least ensured the group will run right to the wire.
For South Africa, the equation is simple: beat the Dutch, and ensure their spot in the semi-finals. However, their loss here leaves them relying on India not defeating Zimbabwe to take back top spot in the group.
The result also confirms a bizarre T20 World Cup stat; no team in the event’s history has ever gone through a tournament undefeated, with the Proteas the last unbeaten team in the 2022 edition.
Players were forced from the field for close to an hour during the South African innings and, when play resumed, the wickets meant the Proteas’ equation went from 117 needed off 66 to an unlikely 73 off 30.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-14) also struck early after the break to halt any hopes South Africa had of a late charge, before wickets fell quick late.
But at stages before Shadab’s influence, it didn’t look like that would be the case.
Shadab Khan of Pakistan celebrates taking the wicket of Aiden Markram of South Africa. (Photo by Matt King-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
Batting first, Pakistan slumped to 4-43 early when Anrich Nortje (4-41) took control, as Babar Azam’s miserable World Cup continued with just six up top.
For a long time considered the best Twenty20 bat in the world, Babar’s tournament now reads 14 runs from four innings at a strike rate of 46.66.
Shadab then helped revive Pakistan’s innings with four big sixes, while Iftikhar Ahmed also hit 51 from 35 as the Proteas’ fielding grew sloppy.
Together, the pair put on an 82-run sixth-wicket stand from 35 balls, with Iftikhar producing the biggest hit of the night when he pulled Lungi Ngidi 106 metres into the Brewongle Stand.
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Shadab’s work was only then half done, as his heroics with the ball set up the win after the Proteas had recovered from 2-16 to 2-65.
He had Temba Bavuma caught behind for 36 off the first ball he bowled and then went straight through Aiden Markram for 20 before the rain set in.
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