| ICC Men's T20 World Cup Group 2, Sydney |
| Pakistan 185-9 (20 overs): Shadab 52 (22), Iftikhar 51 (35); Nortje 4-41 |
| South Africa 108-9 (14 overs): Bavuma 36 (19); Shaheen 3-14 |
| Pakistan won by 33 runs (DLS) |
| Scorecard. Tables |
Pakistan boosted their hopes of progressing in the Men's T20 World Cup with a brilliantly frenetic win against South Africa.
Pakistan recovered from 48-4 to post 185-9 and then took regular wickets to deny South Africa in a chase shortened by rain to win by 33 runs.
Pakistan can still qualify for the semi-finals if it beats Bangladesh on Sunday and South Africa fails to beat Netherlands.
There was a wild partnership of 82 from 36 balls.
In front of a loud, Pakistan-dominated crowd, Shadab and Iftikhar smashed 52 from 22 and 35 balls, respectively.
Temba Bavuma and Markram put on 49 in 27 balls to give South Africa hope.
The target was reduced to 142 off 14 overs and South Africa needed 73 off 30 balls.
He struck three fours in his first four balls after the restart but his dismissal allowed Pakistan to finish off the match.
South Africa would have been the first team to confirm a semi-final spot had they won.
If South Africa-Netherlands is washed out, Pakistan could make it. Pakistan would go through if they won three of their four games against the South Africans.
Pakistan's struggles in the World Cup have mostly been down to their batting, including when they failed to chase 131 in a one-run defeat by Zimbabwe.
When Babar Azam was run out by Kagiso Rabada off the bowling of Lungi Ng in the first over, they looked like they were going the same way again.
They launched a counter- attack after 6 overs.
There were three fours and four sixes by Shadab, who cleared the ropes off successive deliveries from fast bowler Anrich Nortje.
The longest hit of the tournament was iftikhar's 106m six over the leg side.
The fifty was reached in 21 balls, making it Pakistan's second fastest in the shortest form of the game.
South Africa did not assist themselves. Four catches were dropped in the second half of the game.
The match was lost from the perspective of the Proteas because it allowed Pakistan to score more than they should have.
Pakistan's bowling team once again excelled.
The target was made more difficult by the fact that Rilee Rossouw was caught at deep third in the next over.
The Bavuma-Markram stand was the only point Pakistan were able to push back, Bavuma stepping across and hitting a six over his leg.
Bavuma was caught behind the ball by the first ball, and Markram was trapped by the second ball.
The chase was always going to be difficult, even after the rain, as they had already lost a couple of early ones.
A steepling catch off Naseem Shah's bouncer was taken by Mohammad Wasim off Shaheen, who took 3-14 overall.
South Africa has another chance to progress.
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