![Pakistan defeated South Africa in a must-win match](https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/640x430/filters:format(webp)/sportsyaari/media/post_banners/seFd6FojCyhbcJO3ekRi.png)
Pakistan defeated South Africa by 33 runs in a rain-shortened match to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Half-centuries from Shadab Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed helped Pakistan to score 185 runs. With the ball, Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan destroyed South Africa's batting order, helping Pakistan to win the match.
Poor start from Top order:-
Rizwan struck the boundary on the second ball of the first over, but Parnell dismissed him after one ball. The ball nipped back into the Rizwan, cramping him for space; he got the inside edge of his bat and the ball hit the stumps. Mohammad Haris hammered Rabada for two sixes and a four in the second over. Nortje dismissed him in the fifth over, while Ngidi dismissed struggling Babar in the Powerplay's final over.
Shadab, Iftikhar powers Pakistan to 185:-
Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz's 52-run partnership helped Pakistan to recover from 43/4. Mohammad Nawaz attempted to sweep Shamsi but failed after getting the inside edge onto the pad. Nawaz then attempted to run but Lungi Ngidi's direct hit struck the stump, leading Nawaz to think that he had been run out and he didn't take the review. Shadab Khan hammered Shamsi and Ngidi for 15 runs each. He then smashed Nortje for two consecutive sixes to reach his fifty in 20 balls. Iftikhar completed his half-century in 33 balls as well. Pakistan scored 90 runs in the last seven overs to post a competitive total.
South Africa only managed to score 108/9:-
In the opening over, Shaheen Afridi dismissed Quinton De Kock as he mistimed the ball to mid-wicket and Haris took his catch. In his second over, he dismissed inform Rilee Rossouw. Bavuma batted brilliantly, scoring 36 off 18 balls, but Shadab Khan dismissed both him and Markram in the same over. Due to the rain, the match was reduced to 14 overs, with a revised target of 142 runs. South Africa required 73 runs in five overs. Heinrich Klassen hit Afridi for two fours but was dismissed in the same over.
Mohammad Wasim dismissed Parnell, and South Africa was 99/6 after 12 overs. In the 13th over, Naseem Shah removed Tristan Stubbs, then in the final over, Rabada was run out and Haris Rauf dismissed Nortje to keep their semi-final hopes alive.