South Africa vs Pakistan, South Africa tour of Pakistan, 2021, Today Match Prediction 02 Apr 2021

sa vs pak Match Prediction & Analysis

The South African side would be starting the 3-match ODI series against Pakistan at SuperSport Park, Centurion. The hosts had a poor tour of Pakistan a month back and as they play the same opponents at home the hosts would be looking to even it out. South Africa has done well at home in the recent years and they would be looking to make good use of the conditions here and start the series with a win. 

Pakistanis have been poor tourists outside the subcontinent and in the last three years their record on tracks that have pace and bounce has been dismal. It will be a challenge for the side to put that behind and win the game here. South Africans have enjoyed great success at this venue in the last few years and shall be looking to continue with this in this game as well.

TEAMS PREVIEW

South Africa Preview

Temba Bavuma would be looking to make a good start to his captaincy career. The newly appointed skipper would be confident about the prospects of his side here. They have enjoyed good record against Pakistan in these conditions and similar efforts would be expected from them here in this game. 

They have a formidable opening pair in Quinton de Kock and Janneman Malan and they would be expected to provide a good start here. The middle order has good players in Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma and David Miller and they would need to steer the innings and set up a good platform for Wiaan Mulder and Heinrich Klaasen to launch the attack towards the end of the game. 

The side would look for early wickets from Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje who would be expected to use the conditions well with the new ball. Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj would need to check the flow of runs in the middle overs for the side. Mulder will have to play the role of a fifth bowler well in this game.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Janneman Malan, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Heinrich Klaasen, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj

South Africa Actual Playing XI:

Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, Rassie van der Dussen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Temba Bavuma

Pakistan Preview

Babar Azam would want his side to get over the tag of being poor tourists. They have not done well outside the subcontinent in the past few years has been awful and this is something the Pakistani skipper would like to change during this tour. They had defeated the South Africans at home last month and would like to draw inspiration from that series. 

Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq will have to play a very important role up the order for the side and provide them with a good start. At No. 3 Babar Azam needs to focus on building partnerships with Haider Ali and Abdullah Shafique. In Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan they have good hitters of the ball down the order and quick runs would be expected from them here. 

The side needs to strike early with the new ball and a good start would be expected from Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. Hasan Ali would be expected to well in the middle overs and towards the death. In Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf they have two intelligent bowlers and they shall look to trouble the South Africans with their variety in this game.

Pakistan Predicted Playing XI:

Babar Azam (c), Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Abdullah Shafique, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shaheed Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf

Pakistan Actual Playing XI:

Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hasnain, Danish Aziz, Haris Rauf, Asif Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The skies over Centurion would be clear on April 01 and we expect the track to be a lively one where the ball would bounce and move off the surface. Batsmen will have to be cautious in their approach. A score of 280 or more would be a good one for the side that bats first in this game.

Venue Details

SuperSport Park, Centurion has been a good hunting ground for the fast bowlers. There is bounce and pace on the track and this allows the fast bowlers to use the new ball well and trouble the batsmen. Batsmen who build their innings have done well at this venue. There isn’t much for the spinners on this track.

Toss: To Bowl

The pitch is likely to offer early assistance to the fast bowlers and in the past we have seen most of the sides prefer to bowl here upon winning the toss. The venue would see a game after a long time and hence the side winning the toss would like to bowl first on winning the toss.