South Africa vs Pakistan, Pakistan tour of South Africa 2018-19, Today Match Prediction 11 Jan 2019

n/a vs pak Match Prediction & Analysis

Hosts South Africa will be looking to continue their good form when they face Pakistan in the third and final game of the Test series in Johannesburg on Friday. The home side will go into the final game without their captain Faf Du Plessis, who has been suspended for one game due to slow over-rates.

On the other hand, Pakistan will be hoping to make amends for their mistakes made in the previous two games. The visitors will be keen to end the series on a positive note in order to gain necessary confidence going into the five-match one-day series. Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed will be determined to make sure Pakistan can end their winless streak in Test cricket.

TEAMS PREVIEW

South Africa Preview

The hosts have plenty of issues going into the final game of the Test series. Dean Elgar might captain the side for this game as Faf du Plessis has been suspended by ICC due to slow over rates.

Opener Aiden Markram is likely to be fit and available for the final game of the series. He did not bat in the second innings for South Africa due to a bruised thigh. Markram certainly led the way with the bat for South Africa and scored 78 runs off 134 balls with the help of 14 fours.

Hashim Amla also received a nasty blow on his elbow from a rising delivery from pacer Mohammad Amir. It will be interesting to see whether Amla will be fit in time for the final game of the series.

With Du Plessis sidelined, Zubayr Hamza might make his Test debut in this game. The uncapped player was included in the Test squad for the three-match series against Pakistan.

Dean Elgar will be looking to lead from the front and get a big score for South Africa in this game. In the batting department, the likes of Dean Elgar, Temba Bavuma and Hashim Amla will need to do the bulk of the scoring.

Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock have chipped in with crucial performances for the side in the first two games of the series against Pakistan.

In the bowling department, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier have been excellent with the new ball. South Africa will go in with the same bowling combination as pitch in Johannesburg provides more assistance to the quick bowlers.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

 Dean Elgar (captain), Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis/Zubayr Hamza, Temba Bavuma, Theunis De Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier.

Pakistan Preview

Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed will be determined to produce their best game with bat and ball in this game.

In the batting department, the side will be relying on the in-form opener Shan Masood, who has been Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in this series with 189 runs at an average of 47.25. 

Asad Shafiq found form in the previous game played in Newlands. He produced brisk innings of 88 runs off 165 balls with the help of 12 fours and a six. Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed also produced half-centuries in the second game of the series played in Cape Town.

Fakhar Zaman might be dropped from the side due to a string of low scores on this tour. All-rounder Faheem Ashraf might be included as he will provide value with bat and ball. Pakistan might also bring in another seamer to replace Yasir Shah in this game.

In the bowling department, rookie pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been standout for Pakistan with nine wickets to his name.

Pakistan Predicted Playing XI:

Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain), Babar Azam, Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Fakhar Zaman/Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali/Yasir Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Abbas.

Weather Conditions

The pitch at The Wanderers does provide plenty of assistance for the quick bowlers. The weather forecast for the game on Friday is dry and sunny.

Venue

The Wanderers Cricket Stadium in Johannesburg has hosted international games. The venue does provide a good contest between bat and ball. The last game played at the venue was between South Africa and Australia in March 2018.

Toss: To Bat

The side that wins the toss would like to bat first and put runs on the board. The pitch will have pace and bounce for the quick bowlers.