South Africa vs Pakistan | 3rd ODI | Centurion | Jan 25, 2019 | Pakistan Innings Thread

[MenInG]

There has been little to pick between the two sides in the first couple of ODIs, and the teams will want to stamp their authority in the third one-day international in Centurion on Firday, 25 January.

Overview

South Africa v Pakistan
3rd ODI
Supersport Park, Centurion
Friday, 25 January, 1.00pm local time, 11.00am GMT

Both teams put in a solid batting performance in the first ODI in Port Elizabeth. Both then suffered top-order failures in the second game in Durban. Pakistan won the first game, and South Africa settled scores in the second.

It's fair to say that the contest so far has been evenly contested, with the chasing side winning by five wickets on both occasions. Come the third of five ODIs, in Centurion, both teams will desperately want to pull ahead.

The hosts need to sort out a few things with the batting. In Port Elizabeth, Hashim Amla scored a fine unbeaten century and Rassie van der Dussen made 93, but despite the solid platform laid, they were able to post only 266/2 – a total that proved very inadequate. Their inability to accelerate cost them that game.


Then in the second game, chasing a modest 204, they slipped to 80/5, and it took a record sixth-wicket stand between the impressive van der Dussen and Andile Phehlukwayo to get them over the line, rather comfortably in the end.

South Africa are searching for that fine balance between caution and calculated aggression, and that'll be key at the Centurion.

Pakistan's bowling has been pretty disciplined in both games and they didn't waver in the first game even as Amla and van der Dussen batted solidly. Shaheen Afridi gave further evidence of his quality in the second game, picking three wickets. And Shadab Khan's wrist-spin has troubled South Africa considerably.

That said, Imran Tahir and Tabraiz Shamsi, South Africa's primary spinners, have stood out with excellent performances as well. South Africa's quicks were unable to do much damage in the opening game but came roaring back in Durban, with Rabada taking 2/35 and Phehlukwayo starring with 4/22.

Dale Steyn will be back in the squad for remaining three ODIs, and will look to make some inroads, as will the uncapped Beuran Hendricks.

Pakistan's batsmen need to find ways to better counter them. Fakhar Zaman has got starts in two games, but has been unable to carry on for big scores. Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez starred in the first ODI, but failed in the second.

In Durban, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Hasan Ali had to stitch together a 90-run stand for the ninth wicket to take Pakistan past 200. It's the year of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and Pakistan will want to be more consistent with the bat.

Key Players

Andile Phehlukwayo (South Africa): The 22-year-old has always been a skillful ODI bowler, but increasingly, he's starting to show the depth he brings to the batting. His averages 33.18 now, figures indicative of a more-than-handy lower-down batter. With the ball, his variations of pace combined with relentless accuracy have proven key to restricting oppositions.

Shadab Khan (Pakistan): The leg-spinning all-rounder has made an impact with the ball in both games so far, but Pakistan will want him to start contributing more consistently with the bat too. His batting hasn't looked too poor, to be fair, and he could add tremendous stability to Pakistan's depth if he can apply himself a little more.


Conditions

The strip in Centurion can be quite batsmen-friendly, but there's also something in it for the quicks. The weather is expected to be warm and ideal for cricket.


Squads

South Africa: Faf du Plessis(c), Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Beuran Hendricks, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Dale Steyn

Pakistan: Sarfaraz Ahmed(c), Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Shoaib Malik, Usman Khan

[Muhammad Saad]

Shan and Rizwan must play

[Hbomb00]

South Africa to win again, they are on fire even if shan and amir play

[talma]

Sarfaraz should be disbarred for a couple of games.

[Mueez]

Shan and Amir need to play.

Then Pakistan will win easily.

[Mueez]

Pakistan should bowl first imo.

[Amjid Javed]

Our pathetic batting needs to improve, we wont get wickets like we saw in east london rest of the series. Continuing to pick 5 or 6 bits and pieces players in team is no benefit either! this isnt T20 cricket.

Finally if Sarfraz is picked here shows how gutless the PCB really are in dealing with whats recently occurred on this tour.

[PakPremi]

Shan and Amir need to play.

Then Pakistan will win easily.

Pakistan don't do easy - they do not believe in boring cricket. They like to add masala to their matches. Shan and Amir must play though for them to have a chance of winning the series.

[Babloo]

Masood needs to come in for Malik. His the only guy that's been able to play the short ball.

[JibranAnsari]

Shan
Imam
Babar
Hafeez
Rizwan
Shadab
Safraz
Hasan
Amir
Faheem
Shaheen


Amir and shaheen should open the bowling , hassan and faheem to bowl 1st and 2nd change respectively.

[a_tahir]

Shan
Imam
Babar
Hafeez
Rizwan
Shadab
Safraz
Hasan
Amir
Faheem
Shaheen


Amir and shaheen should open the bowling , hassan and faheem to bowl 1st and 2nd change respectively.

There are better options than Faheem. The only reason faheem was in the team was his batting which has been exposed.
Pakistan need Junaid Khan

[asifp]

Shan
Imam
Babar
Hafeez
Rizwan
Shadab
Safraz
Hasan
Amir
Faheem
Shaheen


Amir and shaheen should open the bowling , hassan and faheem to bowl 1st and 2nd change respectively.

Shan or Rizwan will not play that is guaranteed.

Shan threatens Imam
Rizwan might threaten Malik

while other teams are trying to identify new players, we are concerned about how to cement losers into our team

[PakPremi]

Shan or Rizwan will not play that is guaranteed.

Shan threatens Imam
Rizwan might threaten Malik

while other teams are trying to identify new players, we are concerned about how to cement losers into our team

Shan threatens Fakhar if anyone as Imam does get runs. Rizwan is not even a quarter of a player that Malik is, and Malik is not a proper batsman; only person he can threaten is Sarfraz.

[todfod 11]

i m not watchin if sarfaraz plays.. # suspendsarfaraz

[Hitman]

Pakistan has won the toss and they will bat.

[Hitman]

Two changes for Pakistan - Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir are back. And for the home team, Steyn and de Kock return, Beuran Hendricks debuts

[shah_1]

Malik continues to play

[Shafi]

Sarfraz got away with his racist remark!!!! Bravo to PCB and ICC

[MenInG]

Pakistan win the toss and have opted to bat in the 3rd ODI against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion

[asifp]

Mickey Aruther is crushing Pakistan cricket.

I mean this bunch made no 100's against good team in 2018 and yet Shan and Fakhr cant find a place.

Don't they remember the last time they made a merit based decision and played Fakhr over Ahemed S what happened.

Loser bunch we have

[ask_analyse_act]

Shan and Rizwan must play

Still needs to wait for their chances

[Mamoon]

Sarfraz should not have been selected for the remainder of this series. Pathetic and spineless by the PCB.

We deserve to be humiliated.

[AMSS]

How chirpy would Sarfaraz be tonight behind the stumps?

[Pakhs]

Pakistan to bat first... Steyn V Hafeez first up.

[dragon751]

Mickey Aruther is crushing Pakistan cricket.

I mean this bunch made no 100's against good team in 2018 and yet Shan and Fakhr cant find a place.

Don't they remember the last time they made a merit based decision and played Fakhr over Ahemed S what happened.

Loser bunch we have

Agree , you guys need a coach like john wright or gary kirsten, arthur is a muppet

[ask_analyse_act]

Masood needs to come in for Malik. His the only guy that's been able to play the short ball.

Pak think tank always have other ideas that are abnormal

[Omer2002]

Shaan not playinig i am bamboozled...two much swapping and changes..The world cup is in England you are playing in south Africa..playing three spinners is not a good idea that is for sure

[lahoriyah1234]

Sarfraz should not have been selected for the remainder of this series. Pathetic and spineless by the PCB.

We deserve to be humiliated.

Just because you didn’t wanted Sarfraz to play, Pakistan Team should humiliated. Wow great fan you are. What has happened has happened. SA team forgave Sarfraz time to move on.

[MenInG]

Teams:
South Africa (Playing XI): Quinton de Kock(w), Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis(c), David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Beuran Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi

Pakistan (Playing XI): Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed(w/c), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi

[Pakhs]

Shaan not playinig i am bamboozled...two much swapping and changes..The world cup is in England you are playing in south Africa..playing three spinners is not a good idea that is for sure

Shan definitely should get the next two games. We need to look at him before the WC.

[Invincible Gujjar]

Go proteas go proteas give them what they deserve and that's epic phainty especially to the captain useless.

[Sher Khan]

I doubt even the PCB realises the severity of his comments. If this was the Australian cricket team captain. The board would have called him back to Australia and slapped him a minimum five match ban.

[Rayyman]

How u gonna drop my boy Talat like that smh

[lahoriyah1234]

Shaan not playinig i am bamboozled...two much swapping and changes..The world cup is in England you are playing in south Africa..playing three spinners is not a good idea that is for sure

All those fans who became a fan of him overnight, just remember that he is not a ODI player, still an average player and people will find out soon. Dont be fooled by his test performance. He is just not ODI player, Malik is ten times better than him and more reliable batsmen in the batting line up.

[JibranAnsari]

Pakistan team morale is down , dont think we are going to win any more matches.

[Invincible Gujjar]

Hack talat and faheem mediocre ashraf have been dropped a step in right direction.

[Blistering Barnacle]

Shame that Shan misses out again.

[lahoriyah1234]

Hack talat and faheem mediocre ashraf have been dropped a step in right direction.

Good Decision, both should only play T20 cricket. ODI we need to look for more reliable allrounder for the WC, unless 2 of these drastically improve their performance and become reliable.

[Blistering Barnacle]

I think this team selection is better than the last one though.

[Pakhs]

This is a better looking team from Pakistan..

[aukhan]

No Rizwan. Disgusting politics from Sarfraz. Insecure Captain is afraid of competition.

Small man occupying offices.

[lahoriyah1234]

Pakistan team morale is down , dont think we are going to win any more matches.

Their morale should be always up and ready to win a match for their country. They are representing Pakistan Team, such things should not affect the team, you are here to win and not worried about what has happened outside the ground. Stupid reason to put forward for team to underperform

[babajee]

This is a better looking team from Pakistan..

This attack would be so good if we had a real spinner instead of Imad.

[Omer2002]

All those fans who became a fan of him overnight, just remember that he is not a ODI player, still an average player and people will find out soon. Dont be fooled by his test performance. He is just not ODI player, Malik is ten times better than him and more reliable batsmen in the batting line up.

I do agree with you but look at his domestic one day record this year..look at the record for Pakistan A team in one days...he was an average player in tests too and worked very hard . I never rated him myself but his hard work and form has been impressing

[Nov15]

Says a lot about PCB's professionalism & culture in general that Sarfraz hasn't been benched today. Seems they still suffer from the "whole world is conspiring against us" complex.

[MMHS]

I think, it's another tactical blunder by PAK - Centurion is a chasing track. I understand it's D/N (In a day game, only a Captain like WY will choose to bat first and allow opponents to chase under glorious sunshine - that too against IND's batting of 2003 and after a 30 minutes delayed start for damp condition due to over night rain ), but still PAK's best chance is to restrict SAF under 270 and try to play out 50 overs, should chase that sort of target. Hope PAK batsmen prove me wrong and post 300+ here.

[lahoriyah1234]

This attack would be so good if we had a real spinner instead of Imad.

What happened to the off spinner played against Nzl and Aus test series. He looked decent spinner plus he could bat as well.

[dragon751]

This attack would be so good if we had a real spinner instead of Imad.

you have shadab and hafeez, i dont understand the need for imad instead of a specialist bat/bowler

[Amjid Javed]

Definatley wont be watching the game if are disgraceful captain comes out to bat.

[Invincible Gujjar]

Good Decision, both should only play T20 cricket. ODI we need to look for more reliable allrounder for the WC, unless 2 of these drastically improve their performance and become reliable.

T20 cricket is fun cricket.anybody can play that joke format.I don't think they can become reliable cause they don't have skills.Faheem is way too mediocre with bat and hils bowling is not any special either.As far as talat is concerned I don't understand the hype he really seemed out of place in handful of matches he has played.Team is better off without these mediocre players.

[lahoriyah1234]

I think, it's another tactical blunder by PAK - Centurion is a chasing track. I understand it's D/N (In a day game, only a Captain like WY will choose to bat first and allow opponents to chase under glorious sunshine - that too against IND's batting of 2003 and after a 30 minutes delayed start for damp condition due to over night rain ), but still PAK's best chance is to restrict SAF under 270 and try to play out 50 overs, should chase that sort of target. Hope PAK batsmen prove me wrong and post 300+ here.

If we put anywhere near 265-270 we are winning this bro. Our bowling attack, is different when we have runs on the board. Lets hope imam and fakhar gives us a good start first up against Steyn especially. Looking for Babar and FAkhar top performances due today.

[Pakhs]

This attack would be so good if we had a real spinner instead of Imad.

Yes they tried Yasir Shah last year which didnt work out.. Its either they stick with Imam or find an out and out spinner to replace him.

[lahoriyah1234]

I do agree with you but look at his domestic one day record this year..look at the record for Pakistan A team in one days...he was an average player in tests too and worked very hard . I never rated him myself but his hard work and form has been impressing

He looked good, trust me. If fakhar dont perform tonight he deserves a chance.

[Arham_PakFan]

Need around 270

[Pakhs]

T20 cricket is fun cricket.anybody can play that joke format.I don't think they can become reliable cause they don't have skills.Faheem is way too mediocre with bat and hils bowling is not any special either.As far as talat is concerned I don't understand the hype he really seemed out of place in handful of matches he has played.Team is better off without these mediocre players.

Faheem atleast can bowl all be it I dont think Pakistan need him if he cant bat much. Talat doesnt look to be good enough with bat or bowl.

[MMHS]

Sarfraz should not have been selected for the remainder of this series. Pathetic and spineless by the PCB.

We deserve to be humiliated.

I think, we should move on - I have stopped posted seriously on those threads.

PAK cricket & cricket intelligence has lost almost every bit of glory that was there but still it hasn't gone to drains like this that PCB & the management don't understand where Sarfraz stands as a Captain, as a player and as a representative of the Nation. You don't need even spine to "rest" your Captain after such incidence, not to mention his own performance, his team's performance and after his decision of batting at No. 8.

I am 100% sure now that Sarfraz's Captaincy (or non suspension) is a political call and you should make peace with it - PCB & PTI won't risk upsetting Karachi.

[Ozymandiasza]

Steyn vs Hafeez should be entertaining

[Mansoor3120]

Babar to score a golden duck

[MMHS]

If we put anywhere near 265-270 we are winning this bro. Our bowling attack, is different when we have runs on the board. Lets hope imam and fakhar gives us a good start first up against Steyn especially. Looking for Babar and FAkhar top performances due today.

If, 270 is put, yes, it'll be a good contest.

[lahoriyah1234]

I think, we should move on - I have stopped posted seriously on those threads.

PAK cricket & cricket intelligence has lost almost every bit of glory that was there but still it hasn't gone to drains like this that PCB & the management don't understand where Sarfraz stands as a Captain, as a player and as a representative of the Nation. You don't need even spine to "rest" your Captain after such incidence, not to mention his own performance, his team's performance and after his decision of batting at No. 8.

I am 100% sure now that Sarfraz's Captaincy (or non suspension) is a political call and you should make peace with it - PCB & PTI won't risk upsetting Karachi.

He has apologised to the player on 1-2-1 basis before the match. I think matter is closed. Move on.

[Mamoon]

I think, we should move on - I have stopped posted seriously on those threads.

PAK cricket & cricket intelligence has lost almost every bit of glory that was there but still it hasn't gone to drains like this that PCB & the management don't understand where Sarfraz stands as a Captain, as a player and as a representative of the Nation. You don't need even spine to "rest" your Captain after such incidence, not to mention his own performance, his team's performance and after his decision of batting at No. 8.

I am 100% sure now that Sarfraz's Captaincy (or non suspension) is a political call and you should make peace with it - PCB & PTI won't risk upsetting Karachi.

I don’t think it is political. PCB is a shameless board that has always protected its wrongdoers without having the guts to do the right thing.

However, you are right. It is time to move on, there is no point.

[RyanRyan10]

Predict at what position will the captain bat today?

[Mansoor3120]

Imad is very good choice in place of someone like Fahim klosner and hussain kallis

[b.lesner]

What happened to Dane patterson he bowled really well in last game

[Ozymandiasza]

What happened to Dane patterson he bowled really well in last game

Probably exploring options for the WC squad.

[dragon751]

What happened to Dane patterson he bowled really well in last game

he was very average last game , pace was 130k avg

[Titan24]

Fakhar’s CA sticker is almost same color as bat and it cant be seen in normal broadcast angle

[Pakhs]

Looks to me it will be a slow start.

[Mansoor3120]

Test cricket at it best

[PakPremi]

Someone advising Sarfraz to keep his mouth shut should take his own advise and be less abusive.

[Rana]

Here we Go. Fakhar swinging and missing or mistiming as usual

[Amjid Javed]

Most fustrating thing with fakhar is that he can play good normal cricket shots but always feels the need to slog.

[mosh101]

Steyn looking good, should be a cracking contest here.

[Hbomb00]

Fakhar with no brain. Steyn is too much for him

[Titan24]

Hopefully Shamsi has been studied by Pak batsmen

[Mansoor3120]

We are undoubtedly the dot ball kings in limited overs cricket

[Titan24]

Most fustrating thing with fakhar is that he can play good normal cricket shots but always feels the need to slog.

Exactly, he is too important a player for Pak to be gifting his wicket away.

[PerfectionPersonified]

fakhar is not pleasing to watch //man with a SAW it feels

[shah_1]

Fakhar is useless

[Mamoon]

Fakhar is finished. A hack whose luck has run out.

He should play T20s only, where his ugly slogs can come off every now and then.