Pakistan posted a modest total of 270 despite Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel's half-centuries. In reply, Aiden Markram led South Africa's run chase with a commendable knock of 91 but it all went down to the wire when Proteas saw themselves in lurch at 260/9. But Keshav Maharaj combined with Tabraiz Shamsi to pull off a thrilling one-wicket win for South Africa.
Meanwhile a dejected Pakistan captain Babar accepted it despite being on the wrong side of a DRS call during his team's thrilling one-wicket defeat to South Africa.
Pakistan would have won the match in 46th over itself when a Haris Rauf delivery, bowled wide off the crease, stuck Shamsi on the pads and Pakistan went for the DRS call after on-field umpire ruled it not out.
Despite the on-field umpire's initial verdict of not out, Pakistan opted for a DRS review. The ball-tracking indicated the ball was just brushing the leg stump, but thanks to the Umpires' Call, Shamsi remained at the crease, much to the dismay of the Pakistan team.
When asked about the DRS call during the post match presentation, the disappointed Babar said,"It's part of the game. This is umpire's call so I think it's just part of the game. Had he given it out, it would have favoured us."
"I think it's disappointing everyone, we had the opportunity to win this match and stay in the tournament but we missed it. 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."
Babar came down heavily on his batters for underperforming and failing to add more runs to Pakistan's total.
“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,” Babar concluded.
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