South Africa vs Pakistan, Pakistan tour of South Africa 2018-19, Today Match Prediction 03 Feb 2019

n/a vs pak Match Prediction & Analysis

Hosts South Africa and Pakistan will battle it out in the second T20I game of the series at The Wanderers, Johannesburg on Sunday. Faf du Plessis and co. came out on top in a high-scoring game played at Newlands Cricket Ground. 

With this result, South Africa have taken 1-0 lead in three-match T20I series. David Miller might take over captaincy duties as Faf du Plessis has been rested for the final two games of the series.

On the other hand, Pakistan will be keen to make a strong comeback in the T20 series after a narrow defeat in Cape Town. Skipper Shoaib Malik will be hoping that side can learn from their mistakes and put in a better performance in bid to level the T20I series.

TEAMS PREVIEW

South Africa Preview

Hosts South Africa registered a mammoth score on the board courtesy of splendid performances from Reeza Hendricks and Captain Faf du Plessis. 

Wicket-keeper Gihahn Cloete will certainly look to do well in this game after scoring only 13 runs in the series opener played at Newlands. Left-hander certainly has talent and ability to put in big performances in the T20 format.

Captain Faf du Plessis led the way with the bat and scored 78 off 45 balls with the help of six fours and four sixes. He was well supported by opening batsman Reeza Hendricks, who also scored 74 off 41 balls with the help of eight fours and two sixes. Du Plessis added 131- run partnership to help South Africa post a mammoth score of 192 runs in 20 overs. 

David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen will need to contribute runs with the bat for South Africa. Miller is the most accomplished player in the T20 format and will certainly get an opportunity to bat high in the order in this game.

In the bowling department, medium-pacer Andile Phehlukwayo was standout bowler for the side. He used his variations to good use against Pakistani batsman in the opening game of the T20 series. Left-arm Chinaman Tabraiz Shamsi also chipped in with two wickets for South Africa.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

David Miller (c), Gihahn Cloete, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock/Willem Mulder, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Junior Dala, Beuran Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi

South Africa Actual Playing XI:

Junior Dala, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Reeza Hendricks, Lutho Sipamla, Chris Morris, David Miller, Janneman Malan, B Hendricks, Andile Phehlukwayo

Pakistan Preview

The visitors certainly dominated in patches while chasing a huge score set by South Africa for victory. Fakhar Zaman perished for a low score and needs to produce consistency with the bat for Pakistan at the top of the innings. Pakistan will be hoping that he can deliver runs with the bat in the second T20 game of the series.

Babar Azam played well and scored 38 off 27 balls with the help of three fours and a six. He added 81 runs with Hussain Talat to help Pakistan get off to an excellent start in the chase. Azam was well supported by Talat, who also chipped in with 40 off 32 balls with the help of five boundaries.

The big positive for Pakistan will be all-rounder Hussain Talat finding form with the bat. He certainly gained a lot of confidence after producing a decent innings for Pakistan in T20I series opener played in Cape Town.

Captain Shoaib Malik also chipped in with a decent performance for Pakistan. He certainly took the game down to the wire for his team. He scored 49 runs off 31 balls with the help of five fours and a six.

Asif Ali, Mohammad Rizwan and Faheem Ashraf failed to produce crucial runs for Pakistan in the first game of the T20I series. Pakistan will be hoping that lower-order players like Asif Ali, Mohammad Rizwan and Imad Wasim can contribute with the bat for the remaining two games of the T20I series.

Pakistan Predicted Playing XI:

Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Hussain Talat/Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan Shinwari, Hasan Ali

Pakistan Actual Playing XI:

Usman Khan, SI Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, F Zaman, Hussain Talat, Shoaib Malik, Hasan Ali, Asif Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan

Weather Conditions

The pitch will certainly be a good one for this contest. The weather forecast for the game is thunderstorms in the evening. The rain might play a role in the outcome of the game.

Venue

The venue certainly provides an interesting contest between bat and ball. South Africa have lost their last three T20I games played at this venue.

Toss: To Bowl

The toss might not matter much in this game. But with rain forecast will certainly make it difficult for bowlers to execute their plans. Thus we predict team winning to toss would choose to Bowl.