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South Africa will be taking on Pakistan in the second encounter of the three-match ODI series in Johannesburg this Sunday.
The visitors will feel buoyed, having started the tour on a fantastic note as they clinched victory in the opening encounter in Centurion on Friday (April 2).
In a tightly contested fixture at the SuperSport Park, Pakistan came out triumphant by three wickets and went 1-0 up in the series.
As it happened, the Asian giants began superbly after winning the toss and opting to bowl first. They rocked the Proteas hard early in the innings and left them struggling at 55/4. The likes of Aiden Markram (19), Quinton de Kock (20) got starts but didn’t go on to play long. Even skipper Temba Bavuma (1) and Heinrich Klassen (1) came and went in no time.
South Africa required a fantastic partnership to recover, which was provided by middle-order batsmen Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller. They batted with great resolve and maturity through their fifth-wicket stand of 116 runs. Miller ended with a well-timed half-century, scoring 50 off 56 balls.
But Dussen carried on and made a superlative hundred, reaching 123 not out by the end of the innings off 134 balls. Dussen’s maiden ODI century helped South Africa post a fighting total of 273/6, which they didn’t look like reaching at one stage. Andile Phehlukwayo (29) and Kagiso Rabada (13*) also chipped in with useful runs towards their team’s cause from lower down the order.
Among Pakistan bowlers, pacers Shaheen Afridi (2/61), Mohammad Hasnain (1/52), Faheem Ashraf (1/25) and Haris Rauf (2/72) picked up the six South African wickets that fell. The visitors would’ve been slightly disappointed to have let South Africa resurrect themselves from a precarious situation.
During the run-chase, Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman (8) very early. Before Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq gradually steadied the ship and stitched a very controlled second-wicket partnership of 177 runs. Imam made a sensible 70 off 80 deliveries and was dismissed just when he was setting his eye on a ton. However, Babar stayed there and made another one-day century in his career, scoring 103 off 104 balls to shepherd the chase.
When Imam and Babar were in, it seemed a matter of formality before Pakistan would reach the 274-run target. But their wickets opened the door back for the South African attack as Pakistan suddenly went from 186/2 to 203/5. They were then bailed out of the situation by wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan (40) and spin all-rounder Shadab Khan (33). And although the visitors still did panic a touch towards the end under pressure, they eventually sneaked through to the victory post off the final ball.
Pacemen Anrich Nortje (4/51), Andile Phehlukwayo (2/56) and Kagiso Rabada (1/51) could’ve proven South Africa’s saviours for the day had the hosts batted a lot better in the first half and posted another 20 runs on the board.
A similarly tight contest could be in the offing from these two flawed but talented teams in Jo’burg this Sunday, with the series honours on the line.
Key Players
Rassie van der Dussen produced an excellent exhibition on anchoring and helping your team recover from a difficult situation in the opening ODI. Dussen’s century was once again proof of how crucial he has been for South Africa. The right-hand batsman gave his team a fighting chance to win the game in Centurion. Dussen has now scored 830 runs from 22 innings in his ODI career with a fantastic average of 83.00 and strike-rate of 83.16.
Anrich Nortje was the pick of the South African bowlers in the last match. His four-wicket haul in the first ODI included the prized scalps of Imam and Babar. Had he gotten more support at the other end, Nortje’s spell would’ve proven that much more effective for South Africa. Nortje has now taken 18 wickets from his 8 ODIs for South Africa with an average of 18.55 and economy rate of 5.08.
Babar Azam proved again in the first ODI why he is one of the best batsmen in modern-day cricket. The Pakistan captain produced his 13th ODI century in a close run-chase in Centurion. Babar has now made 3,683 runs from 78 ODIs in his career at an average of 56.66 while maintaining a decent strike-rate of 88.15. He will be determined to pull off one more such performance in the second ODI and help his team seal the series.
Imam-ul-Haq has faced criticism from various corners before for his approach and overall strike-rate. But the left-hand opening batsman showed in the opening one-dayer in Centurion that he brings immense value to a vulnerable Pakistan batting unit. Imam batted maturely for his half-century and played his part in the visitors’ win. The 25-year-old has now scored 1,904 runs from his 41 ODIs at an average of 52.88 and strike-rate of 80.67.
Prediction
Pakistan will be carrying a wave of confidence after winning the first ODI. South Africa will be hurting upon beginning the home series on a disappointing note and letting the visitors take a crucial 1-0 lead.
Pakistan are always more dangerous with some momentum behind them, but South Africa will know they did have their opportunities in the opening ODI and are still playing in home conditions.
The hosts could bounce back strongly against their unpredictable opponents and level the series 1-1 in Johannesburg.
