Proteas summit World Cup table with thrilling victory over Pakistan

South African sports fans had their spirits raised even further, on the eve of the Rugby World Cup final, as the Proteas climbed to top spot in the opening round of the Cricket World Cup with a thrilling one-wicket victory over Pakistan in Chennai on Friday.

Chasing 271 to win against the former champions, the Proteas nearly ran out of wickets but they managed to hold on, ultimately reaching a total of 271/9 with just 16 balls to spare.

Middle-order batter Aiden Markram played an anchor role, as the Proteas line-up rallied around him while he racked up 91 runs off 93 balls.

Though none of the other players really managed to get going, five batters – captain Temba Bavuma (who returned from illness to score 28), Quinton de Kock (24), Rassie van der Dussen (21), David Miller (29) and Marco Jansen (20) – contributed at least 20 runs each, which proved to be enough of a collective effort as a group supporting act.

After Markram was removed, they still needed 21 runs with three wickets in hand, but the lower order managed to carry them home.

Pakistan innings

Earlier, all-rounder Jansen dismissed openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq within a couple of overs after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first.

Pakistan managed to recover, however, with captain Babar Azam making 50 runs. And after a successful review from the Proteas sent Azam packing, Saud Shakeel (52) and Shadab Khan (43) combined in an 84-run stand for the sixth wicket.

The Proteas attack again struggled to shake off a persistent middle order – a growing concern in their camp – but they managed to slice off the tail without too much hassle, bowling out their opponents for 270 runs in the 47th over.

They were led by spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, who returned 4/60, and Jansen who took 3/43.

With the victory, South Africa climbed to the top of the round-robin table, having won five of their six matches thus far in the opening round of competition at the global showpiece.

While they were equal on 10 points with India, however, and narrowly ahead on net run-rate, the unbeaten hosts held a game in hand, and they were looking to return to the summit of the table by winning their match against a struggling England side on Sunday.

The Proteas will next face New Zealand in Pune on Wednesday, in their quest to earn a place in the semi-finals.