Pakistan's World Cup 2023 campaign took an unfortunate turn as they set an unwanted record in their history. On a thrilling day in Chennai, they faced South Africa in a nail-biting encounter, ultimately losing by just one wicket.

The match began with Pakistan, led by their captain Babar Azam, winning the toss and choosing to bat first. Despite a shaky start and the early loss of their openers, Babar Azam played a captain's knock, scoring a crucial half-century to stabilize the innings. However, after his dismissal, the team's batting line-up crumbled, and they were eventually all out for 270 runs in 46.4 overs. The South African spinner, Tabraiz Shamsi, played a pivotal role in limiting Pakistan's total, taking four key wickets.

In response, South Africa faced a daunting challenge. Aiden Markram was the standout performer with a score of 91, but the Proteas lost wickets at regular intervals. Even though they appeared on track for victory with Markram still at the crease, they experienced another significant batting collapse, going from a promising 204/4 to a nail-biting 260/9.

However, it was Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi who displayed remarkable composure and guided South Africa to a thrilling one-wicket victory, securing their fifth triumph in the tournament. This win propelled South Africa to the coveted top spot in the points table, firmly establishing them as a formidable force in the World Cup.

For Pakistan, this loss marked a new low in the tournament, representing their fourth consecutive defeat in World Cup history, a first in their cricketing journey. Leading up to this match, they had faced setbacks against India, Australia, and Afghanistan. This string of defeats places Pakistan in a precarious situation, where they must secure victories in all their remaining matches and rely on other match outcomes to maintain any hope of advancing to the semifinals.

The path ahead is challenging for Pakistan, but the world of cricket is known for its unpredictable nature. They still hold an opportunity to reverse their fortunes in the remaining matches of the World Cup. Meanwhile, South Africa is riding the wave of their success, and this triumph has solidified their position as frontrunners in the tournament.

Picture Credits - myKhel