Pakistan rode on a late charge from Iftikhar Ahmed and Shadab Khan to post a strong total of 310/7 in their Cricket World Cup 2023 match against South Africa on Saturday, October 22.
Pakistan were in a spot of bother at 203/5 in the 40th over, but Ahmed and Khan put on a stunning partnership of 107 runs off just 70 balls to power Pakistan to a strong total.
Ahmed smashed 82 runs off just 54 balls, while Khan made 52 runs off just 39 balls. Both batsmen hit some lusty blows towards the end of the innings to help Pakistan post a total that proved to be too much for South Africa.
South Africa were bowled out for 282 in the 48th over, with Pakistan winning the match by 28 runs.
Pakistan’s late charge
Pakistan’s late charge was spearheaded by Ahmed and Khan. Both batsmen played some fearless cricket and took the South African bowlers to the cleaners.
Ahmed was particularly brutal in the final few overs of the innings. He hit three sixes and four fours in the last five overs to help Pakistan reach a total of 310/7.
Khan also played a crucial role in Pakistan’s late charge. He hit some intelligent shots and rotated the strike well to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Ahmed and Khan’s partnership of 107 runs off just 70 balls was the turning point of the match. It helped Pakistan post a total that proved to be too much for South Africa to chase down.
Pakistan’s batting performance
Pakistan’s batting performance was a mixed bag. They were in a spot of bother at 203/5 in the 40th over, but Ahmed and Khan’s late charge helped them post a strong total.
Babar Azam, the Pakistan captain, scored a solid 71 runs off 82 balls. He anchored the innings and provided a good platform for the other batsmen to build on.
Fakhar Zaman also made a valuable contribution of 55 runs. He was aggressive from the start and helped Pakistan get off to a good start.
However, the rest of the Pakistan batsmen failed to capitalize on their starts. Mohammad Rizwan (25), Shoaib Malik (15), and Khushdil Shah (15) were all dismissed cheaply.
Overall, Pakistan’s batting performance was good. They posted a strong total of 310/7, which proved to be too much for South Africa to chase down.
Conclusion:
Pakistan’s victory over South Africa was a clinical performance. They were dominant in both batting and bowling.
Pakistan’s late charge was the turning point of the match. Ahmed and Khan’s partnership of 107 runs off just 70 balls helped Pakistan post a total that proved to be too much for South Africa.
Pakistan’s batting performance was a mixed bag, but they still managed to post a strong total. Azam and Zaman were the standout batsmen, while the rest of the batsmen failed to capitalize on their starts.
Pakistan’s bowling performance was also excellent. They bowled South Africa out for 282 in the 48th over to win the match by 28 runs.
Pakistan’s victory over South Africa was a confidence-booster. They will now be looking to carry this momentum into their next match against England.