The hosts will have to fix their inconsistencies at the top if they want to level the series.
Big picture
The first ODI painted a broad enough picture of both parties’ strengths and weaknesses in a way that the full series often fails to achieve. Through exactly 100 overs from two mid-table teams battling for position in the World Cup Super League, South Africa’s inconsistency at the top was exposed, as were Pakistan’s struggles with their bowling alley. mortal and a relatively light middle order.
Similarly, the stamina of the home team at the bottom, as well as the purple patches that Anrich Nortje and Rassie van der Dussen currently enjoy, brought them within inches of an unlikely victory, while Babar Azam’s brilliance and safety from Imam-ul-Haq arrived. very useful in a chase below the 274 average. Nothing that happened at SuperSport Park will convince anyone that these teams are competing for the biggest prizes yet, but the first ODI showed that they are still capable of offering contests absorbents.
Pakistan has a chance to close out the series at the first opportunity in Johannesburg, which, regardless of South African cricket status, would be a huge feather in the cap of the touring match. Historically, the series in South Africa has been a struggle for Pakistan, and despite the inflation of ODI scores, Pakistan’s chase on Friday was the third highest in its history outside of Asia. They brought the wickets to the top and nearly killed the game with a partnership. In many ways it was a dominating performance, much of which they simply need to replicate to get 2-0 up.
South Africa will draw positives not only from intangibles like energetic struggle and never-die attitude, but also from the knowledge of significant room for improvement. The game may have been down to the last ball, but they may think they lost it in the first 15 overs; the loss of four early terrains meant they were always swimming upstream. The fact that they nearly made it to shore suggests that a less disastrous start-up would put much greater pressure on Pakistan and, as we all saw on Friday, Pakistan under pressure always seems to have a meltdown.
The hosts will play with a different kit to commemorate the annual pink ODI, which raises money for breast cancer awareness and treatment.
Forms guide
Pakistan WWWLW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
South Africa LWWWL
In the spotlight
Tabraiz shamsi he didn’t get any windows, but the scorecard doesn’t tell the story of his contribution to the latest Centurion drama. Even as Azam and Imam racked up runs, Shamsi was a strap on incessant scoring from the visitors, conceding just three limits; the youngest among his teammates. His mistakes turned prodigiously and seemed to annoy most hitters, and his consistency on the line and variable spin gave the impression that any envelope he threw could be crashed. Tellingly, Temba Bavuma persisted with him at the other end while Nortje cut through the wickets at the other. On the T20I series in Pakistan, you combined control with the window socket, and it doesn’t seem too far off here either.
For a starter averaging over 50, it’s strange Imam-ul-HaqThe place on the Pakistan side is subject to as much forensic criticism as it is. Once again, he seemed to deal with it with poise, serving as the perfect contrast when Azam helped him take the game away from South Africa in the first half. While Fakhar Zaman continues to fail at the other extreme, Imam offers a level of balance to a higher order that historically possessed little, but may well be the stick with which to beat him in the long run. His hit rate is, by modern standards, somewhat pedestrian, and if Pakistan needed races at a faster pace than in an average chase on Friday, Imam might have to show a more dynamic side of his game. With the confidence he seems to possess in his abilities, you wouldn’t be surprised if he took that off his locker.
Team news
South Africa will suffer no-shows once the IPL starts, but for now, they have their full squad at their disposal and should line up one side unchanged.
South Africa (probable): 1 Aiden Markram 2 Quinton de Kock 3 Temba Bavuma (capt) 4 Rassie van der Dussen 5 David Miller 6 Heinrich Klaasen (wk) 7 Andile Phehlukwayo 8 Kagiso Rabada 9 Anrich Nortje 10 Lungi Ngidi 11 Tabraiz Shamsi
Pakistan might want to shore up the middle order with another hitter, with Asif Ali’s place under increasing pressure. Haider Ali could be in line for assent, and everyone below Babar will drop a space.
Pakistan: 1 Imam-ul-Haq 2 Fakhar Zaman 3 Babar Azam (capt) 4 Haider Ali 5 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 6 Danish Aziz 7 Shadab Khan 8 Faheem Ashraf 9 Shaheen Afridi 8. Mohammad Hasnain 11 Haris Rauf
Plot and conditions
This should be a high-scoring game, in line with The Wanderers’ reputation. Inclement weather is unlikely to make its presence felt.
Statistics and curiosities
- Friday’s ODI was the first time in 16 years that Pakistan won an ODI with the last ball. On that occasion, in 2005, Inzamam-ul-Haq took the winning races against Sachin Tendulkar in Ahmedabad.
- Pakistan has just won two of the ten ODI they have played for the Wanderers. However, it does include their most recent competition, an eight-wicket victory over the hosts.
- Among players with at least five ODI innings, no one averages more than Rassie van der Dussen’s 83.
Danyal Rasool is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo. @ Danny61000
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