The final match of the three match ODI series will be played in Centurion on Wednesday, with both sides looking forward to clinch the series.
South Africa stormed back into the three-match ODI series on Sunday, after their impressive victory over Pakistan in the second ODI. The hosts defeated a valiant Pakistani team by 17 runs, to set up the series decider in Centurion. Being put into bat by the visitors, the Proteas managed to put up 341 runs on the board in the first innings.
The top order piled on the runs for the hosts, and a late show from David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen compounded the misery for Pakistan. Temba Bavuma, skipper of the Proteas, top scored for his side with a well-made knock of 92 runs. Quinton de Kock scored 80 runs, whereas, David Miller scored a quickfire 50.
However, it was Fakhar Zaman who stole the show in the second innings. The Pakistani opener smashed 193 runs off just 155 balls, which included 18 fours and 10 sixes. The visitors were never in the chase, and at one time, were reeling at a score of 120 for the loss of five wickets. Anrich Nortje was the standout bowler for the Proteas, picking up three wickets in his 10-over spell, whilst conceding 63 runs.
Fakhar Zaman did not get any sort of support from rest of the batting lineup, as none of the batsman except him and Babar Azam even managed to score 30 runs. Pakistan won the first match in a thrilling fashion, winning off the last ball, with just three wickets to spare. In a major blow to the hosts, the likes of Quinton de Kock, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, David Miller and Anrich Nortje will be unavailable for rest of the series, as they travel to India for the IPL.
Key Players
Babar Azam was adjudged the player of the match in the first ODI for scoring a brilliant knock of 103 runs to take his side past the finishing line. However, he could not have a huge influence in the second ODI, as he was dismissed for just 31 runs. The Pakistani skipper is one of the top-rated batsman in world cricket and has scored 3714 runs in his 79 ODI matches at an astonish average of 56.27.
Fakhar Zaman was unfortunate to miss out on his second ODI double-hundred on Sunday. After a poor start to his ODI series, Zaman answered his critics in style, smashing the South African bowlers all-around the park. He will have an opportunity to score another big knock on Wednesday, as the Proteas will be without their three main frontline pace bowlers.
Rassie van der Dussen is the second highest scorer of the series, accumulating 183 runs in his two matches at a strike rate of 107. He was the lone warrior for the hosts in the first ODI, where he scored an unbeaten knock of 123 runs off just 134 balls, which included 10 fours and 2 sixes. In the second ODI, he showed another side to his game, ending the innings on a high. Van der Dussen scored 60 runs off just 37 balls, which includes 6 fours and 4 sixes.
Andile Phehlukwayo will be the senior most bowler for his side on Wednesday with the likes of Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, all departing for Indian Premier League. The medium-pacer has had a good series so far, picking up four wickets at an average of 30.75. He will have to be on top of his game in the last ODI, and must come up with the goods, in order to ensure that South Africa end the series on a high.
Prediction
Pakistan are the clear favorites to win the third ODI and the three-match series. South Africa will be without their five regular starters and as a result, several new names will be handed an opportunity. The likes of Junior Dala, Lutho Sipamla will be drafted into the starting eleven on Wednesday.
The likes of Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman who have scored been in good form this series, will be in with a clear opportunity to score big in the third ODI. However, Pakistan’s bowling in the middle-overs has not been up to the mark, with Shadab Khan leaking runs and going wicketless in his two matches so far.
Shadab Khan has failed to keep the pressure on the opposition batsman and has often bowled a lot of loose deliveries, which has gotten the right treatment. Pakistan’s death bowling is another huge concern as they conceded about 70 runs in the last ODI. However, with David Miller no longer a part of the squad, South Africa do not have a recognized finisher and will struggle in the last match.
