South Africa vs Pakistan – 3rd One-Day International Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is South Africa vs Pakistan taking place? Wedneday, April 7th, 2021 – 09:00 (UK)
Where is South Africa vs Pakistan taking place? SuperSport Park, Centurion
What is the expected weather for South Africa vs Pakistan? 18-19c with sunshine and cloudy intervals
What channel is South Africa vs Pakistan on? The match will be televised live on Sky Sports
Where can I stream South Africa vs Pakistan? The match can be streamed live on the SkyGo app
LAST MEETING
South Africa beat Pakistan by 17 runs
THE TEAM NEWS
SOUTH AFRICA
- South Africa bounced back nicely in the second one-day international to level the series against Pakistan, and while the 17-run margin looks to be close on the surface, they were always in control of the game.
- After the opening loss where very few players made significant contributions, the opposite was true here as Bavuma, De Kock, Van der Dussen and Miller all hit half centuries to guide them to a formidable 341/6 which proved far too much for them.
- They are forced into wholesale changes here as De Kock, Rabada, Nortje, Miller and Ngidi all depart for the IPL so Janneman Malan, Wiaan Mulder, Junior Dala, Lutho Sipamla and Beuran Hendricks are the quintet tipped to come into the side.
PAKISTAN
- Pakistan lost the second ODI but the big positive was Fakhar Zaman’s stunning knock of 193 from just 155 balls as he almost single-handedly managed to overcome the hosts’ massive total of 341 before being run out in the final over.
- They are forced into one change as Shadab Khan has sustained a toe injury from batting in the second game so he will miss the remainder of this tour so that should hand an opening to Mohammad Nawaz or possibly Usman Qadir with the former more likely given his prowess with the bat.
- Danish Aziz and Asif Ali continue to struggle in the middle order so it would be no surprise of Haider Ali is given a start here especially ahead of the T20s where he should feature in what is the only other potential change.
THE PREDICTION
This series is finely poised at one apiece coming into this deciding game in the three-game ODI series and the hosts will have to overcome their numerous absentees. With five players departing for the IPL, that leaves them thin on the ground in the bowling department especially and the tourists will be confident of taking advantage of that. They have to make a change themselves due to the injury of Shadab Khan but in truth, his form has been poor and it will not a negative having lost him. They have competed better than most people expected in the first two games and against this second-string South African bowling attack, they have to be favoured to clinch this decider and win the series here.
