With five needed before the start of the 48th over, and the last pair of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi at the crease, the game could have gone either way. Shamsi went off strike off the first ball by Mohammad Nawaz. Maharaj, facing the next ball, tucked the delivery off his pads to the deep backward square fence for four.

With the win, SA are now at the top of the table, losing just one game so far. Pakistan are sixth, having won the first two games out of six.

After the game, Babar Azam conceded that the side was “10-15 runs short”, admitting he and the team was “disappointed”. Bavuma, on the other hand, was happy that the team had been able to win a game chasing,

Babar Azam, Pakistan captain:

“Very disappointing, we fought back well but we were 10-15 runs short. I think the way fast bowlers bowled, they did well but unfortunately the result was not in our side.

“We will try our best in our next three matches and put our effort so let’s see where we stand after the three matches.”

Temba Bavuma, South Africa captain:

“It’s a bit of chaos at the moment, guys enjoying it, Guys picking up [Tabraiz] Shamsi. Nail-biting finish, if you are a South African fan, you are a little bit happier, we haven’t done well in chasing, it will be easier to have those conversations now. I think obviously we have a blueprint, batting first, we have shown, we can’t say with conviction we have the blueprint while chasing but we will have the conversations.

“We obviously want to show a more clinical display with the bat. [Kagiso Rabada] is good, he is experiencing lower back spasm, I am sure he will come into contention for the NZ game. Ecstatic for Shamsi, He came in favourable conditions and exploited it. And then with the bat I think you’ve seen Shamsi on social media gloating about his batting, we needed that today and fortunately for us he came through.”

Lots of people talking about DRS at the end not going Pakistan’s way – yes that was unlucky for them

But Rassie van der Dussen also got a very tight call that didnt go his way – also one that had a double umpires call

It happens .. part of the game #CWC23

— Natalie Germanos 🏏 (@NatalieGermanos) October 27, 2023

Bad umpiring and bad rules cost Pakistan this game.. @ICC should change this rule .. if the ball is hitting the stump that’s out whether umpire gave out or not out doesn’t matter.. otherwise what is the use of technology??? @TheRealPCB vs #SouthAfrica #worldcup

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 27, 2023

Bhajji, @harbhajan_singh I feel the same as you on umpires call, but @Rassie72 and South Africa can have the same feeling.? https://t.co/lcTvm8zXD1

— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) October 27, 2023

It’s taken more than 3 weeks for us to finally get a classic one day match: that umpires call that went against Pakistan will haunt them. But frankly Pakistan had lost this World Cup before this game. In the last hour, we saw the Pakistan we want to see on a cricket field.:…

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) October 27, 2023

Has Maharaj ever looked that tomato-faced, chest-thumpingly pumped? What a finish. Feel for Rauf after coming so close to winning it for his team. #PAKvSA

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) October 27, 2023

Two calls went against team Pakistan. Wide and LBW. Looks like South Africa got some Luck with solid game this World Cup… #PAKvSA

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 27, 2023

It took 27 matches…but we finally have a close finish on the cards in this World Cup… #PAKvSA

— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) October 27, 2023

Well fought boys. You all gave your best. Unfortunately the day was not ours 😞#PAKvSA

— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) October 27, 2023

This was given as a wide by the umpire when it hit the batter's leg #CWC23 #PAKvSA pic.twitter.com/zORAihoCdN

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) October 27, 2023