South Africa vs Pakistan | 5th ODI | Cape Town | Jan 30, 2019 | Pre-Match Discussion Thread

[MenInG]

With the series level at 2-2, the decider in Cape Town on Wednesday, January 29, gives teams the opportunity to close out the series and build confidence ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

South Africa v Pakistan
5th ODI
Newlands, Cape Town
30 January, 1.00pm local, 11.00am GMT

Both teams have their issues to iron out, chiefly with the batting. They've been good in patches, but consistency has eluded them. In the last game South Africa were bowled out for a paltry 164.

With the series against on the line, South Africa have added 20-year-old all-rounder Wiaan Mulder to their squad for the final match in Cape Town.

Mulder has played seven ODIs to date, but hasn't really sparkled yet. In seven matches, he has scored just 57 runs at an average of 14.25 and picked up seven wickets at 36.42. He prominently featured in the ODI series in Sri Lanka, but was unable to have much of an impact, particularly with the bat. He will look to grab this opportunity.

But he has been in good form in domestic cricket, most recently scoring a fine 146 in a first-class game for Highveld Lions against the Knights. His inclusion might help add depth to the batting line-up while also doubling up as a reliable bowling option. But more of the batsmen need to stand up and contribute.

Fortunately for South Africa, the two seniors in Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis showed some form in the previous game making fifties. They will want to inspire the others to follow in their footsteps. Other established players like Quinton de Kock, who was out for a duck in the fourth game, will want to step up in the deciding match too.

Pakistan were good with the bat in the last game, but there remains room for improvement in overall consistency. Their batsmen have looked more solid on the whole. Imam-ul-Haq, in particular, has scored a lot of runs and led his side's chase in the previous game with a solid 71. In all, he has scored 263 runs for the series at 65.75.

The bowlers on both sides have been excellent. Pakistan's Usman Shinwari claimed 4/35 in the previous game, while Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan claimed two apiece. South Africa's quicks too bowled well, but simply didn't have a score to play with.



Faf du Plessis (South Africa): Du Plessis scored a gritty 57 in the last game and the captain needs to continue leading from the front. South Africa's middle order has been frail in the series and batting at No.4, du Plessis needs to hold things together and set an example to the more inexperienced players.

Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan): The young paceman has been Pakistan's most impressive quick in the series and has troubled South Africa with pace and bounce. Pakistan will want to ensure that the hosts' batsmen are kept in check and Afridi will play a vital role towards that end.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/984025

 

[Ozymandiasza]

"It's a big game but it's important we don't make it bigger than it already is. When we make it a big thing, we possibly don't bring the best out of ourselves as a team"
Faf du Plessis believes South Africa don't need to put any extra pressure on themselves

At least he knows his team...

 

[Pete Rose]

"It's a big game but it's important we don't make it bigger than it already is. When we make it a big thing, we possibly don't bring the best out of ourselves as a team"
Faf du Plessis believes South Africa don't need to put any extra pressure on themselves

At least he knows his team...

its a small thing, but I think he is a better captain than some of the guys in the past. they did not carry the weight of expectations very well.

 

[Ozymandiasza]

its a small thing, but I think he is a better captain than some of the guys in the past. they did not carry the weight of expectations very well.

Very true.

Our choking is a weird topic though. Our popular sports teams are quite good in finals or "pressure situations". Two Rugby World Cups (one won in extra time with a beautiful drop goal) and plenty of Olympic golds can testify. 2015 was our best shot though, and they (or the rain) blew it.

 

[Ummii]

Hasan in Amir out

 

[xricket]

Toss would be crucial. Team batting 1st generally score more here & then win on.

If we bat first, 300 is the minimum we should put up, but I don't think we will be able. I have found that our batsmen choke on these moments, and we may be 3/4 down below 50 runs.

 

[imshally81]

Amir should play tomorrow game... Afterall, he is a big match bowler....

 

[Pete Rose]

it will be a big discussion point of his captaincy tomorrow: leaving out/in aamir

 

[MenInG]

Standard Bank Proteas captain, Faf du Plessis, wants his team to play with freedom in the series-deciding fifth Momentum one-day international (ODI) against Pakistan at PPC Newlands on Wednesday. The series is level at 2-2 and is set for an exciting finish after a rollercoaster start.

Du Plessis says although it is a ‘must-win’ match, he has urged his players to prepare for the match like they would for any international.

“For me it is about finding out how we play the big games,” he said to the media at Newlands on Tuesday. “ You don’t want to make it any bigger than it is. It is obviously a big game but sometimes when we do make it a big thing we don’t always bring our best as a team. For me it is about freeing up the guys and to allow them to go out there and express themselves in any way they want.

“We don’t want them to see it as a big game where they have to play differently. In the last two years we have played well in these scenarios and we want to test ourselves every time there is a series-decider.”

The inclusion of 20-year-old all-rounder, Wiaan Mulder, is another opportunity for the selectors to continue trying out options. Mulder has made a strong comeback following an ankle injury, top-scoring with 146 for the bizhub Highveld Lions in the ongoing CSA four-day domestic series.

“We would love to win every game that we play but there is a bigger picture for us,” Du Plessis explained. “That has been very clear, over the last year we haven’t always picked the team that is expected or with the most experienced players. It’s about giving young guys the opportunity to play.”

The ICC Cricket World Cup trophy made the first stop of its South African leg at Newlands on Tuesday, and brought about excitement and anticipation ahead of the tournament starting in the UK at the end of May.

“Every team will be going to the World Cup with the same hopes of trying to win it. There are a lot of strong teams, we are going with less pressure on us as a team, there is less expectation of us winning it. It is quite clear that England and India are the two favourites.

“We have a young group in our squad, the guys are excited about the opportunity. There are a lot of guys still trying to find a place in the World Cup fifteen, it is exciting and we are looking forward to see what the final squad for the tournament will be,” Du Plessis concluded.

CSA Media Release

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

My oh My
they started choking already

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

it will be a big discussion point of his captaincy tomorrow: leaving out/in aamir

though i would like hassan to play.
but i can't see mickey dropping amir as they consider him big match player.

 

[a_tahir]

Hassan in Amir out
That is the only change that is needed.
Everything else should be kept the same

 

[Pete Rose]

David Miller has a pretty rubbish record Pakistan. It would be a good time for him to fix it, tomorrow

 

[Adijazz1706]

Probaby time to give Fahim/Talat a chance instead of Imad if the pitch isn't dry, let's see what the bench can do. Unlikely to happen as it is a decider

 

[SportsWarrior]

Guys, great opportunity for your team to win the series. go and beat them.. have fun PCT fans..

 

[jnaveen1980]

https://www.iol.co.za/sport/opinion/are-fafs-proteas-overthinking-odi-selections-19019679

OHANNESBURG – Are the Proteas in danger of overthinking their One-Day team, and who must play and how they must play?

All this experimenting and tinkering is most unusual for a side just four months away from a World Cup. Most South African sides of the past have known who will be playing and what they are about. However the 2019 version is still trying to see who and what works best.

Before the three-match series in Australia last November, Faf du Plessis was very happy about the composition of his starting XI - which for that series was missing Hashim Amla and JP Duminy. But most importantly, was the presence of the four wicket-taking bowlers - the three seamers; Lungi Ngidi, Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada alongside leg-spinner Imran Tahir.

What they were looking for at that point was a no.3 batsman and an all-rounder, whose batting had to be marginally better than his bowling, to fill the no.7 position.

Here we are in January however and that no.3 spot still seems to be up for grabs, the no.7 position is yet to be cemented by anyone, and if one of the three seamers are absent - as Ngidi has been - then Du Plessis believes the balance of his side needs to change.

“What is very clear for me, is that when you have an attack of Ngidi, Rabada, Steyn, the option to play six batters is there. But if one of them is missing. It’s pretty obvious for me you need another batsmen or all-rounder in the top seven.”


South Africa have used Dane Paterson and Beuran Hendricks in this series with Pakistan, ostensibly said Du Plessis last week, to try and find a back-up seam bowler for the 15-man World Cup squad.

What has happened however is that neither of those is in the class of Ngidi which means South Africa can’t trust the ‘six batsmen’ strategy it wants to employ, especially when the all-rounder at 7, Andile Phehlukwayo is extremely inconsistent with that bat.

In addition, while Duminy completes his rehab, the selectors have also been on the look-out for an additional middle order batsmen, but that’s been extremely hard to find.

Last year in Sri Lanka already following a discussion with Gibson, Du Plessis moved himself down one spot in the order from 3 to 4, which has necessitated him changing the way he plays.


Since the Sri Lanka tour Du Plessis has batted at no.4 nine times, and scored 393 runs at an average of 56.14, which suggests that he’s acclimatising reasonably well. Duminy’s return will certainly help and a middle order of Du Plessis, David Miller and Duminy is a solid and very experienced one.

At no.3 however it’s still all up for grabs between Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram. The latter is yet to feature against Pakistan. “It’s tough,” Du Plessis admitted, “Rassie’s done very well and taken some of Aiden’s chances away. We will look at the possibility of giving (Markram) a game in Cape Town.”

“It looks more at the moment that there is a spot at no.3, because most of the personnel that we are assessing and who are competing for that position are 1, 2, 3 position players and its harder to go down than the other way around,” Du Plessis added.

What is becoming clear is that South Africa need to settle on a player in that spot soon, to give everyone some peace of mind.

They need to do that while keeping in mind that they also need to win this series against Pakistan, to provide everyone; players, coaches and selectors with some breathing room and confidence.

@shockerhess

 

[Arham_PakFan]

I think Pakistan will go with the same XI that won the last game.