Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey

South Africa vs Pakistan 5th ODI Preview Dream11

It was a terribly one-sided Test series. South Africa were in control from start to finish, romping to a 3-0 win. The ODI series had to deliver to add a competitive feel to Pakistan’s tour, and it has, despite a very lopsided fourth ODI.

South Africa not only lost their first ever Pink ODI, but were thrashed in a disappointing display. Concerns about their batting will always linger given their susceptibility to the collapse, which was on show at The Wanderers, bowled out for 164 after sitting relatively pretty at 119/2. They need a big response in Cape Town to win the series and avoid losing their second straight ODI series at home to Asian opposition. Can they bounce back quickly?

What about Pakistan? They took more wickets in a rampant display in Johannesburg than their previous three games combined, stepping up with the series on the line. The left-arm duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Khan Shinwari were brilliant as the Pakistanis were not impacted by the loss of their skipper Sarfraz Ahmed to a four match ban. The batsmen then boosted their confidence a little further, and there is little doubt that Pakistan will take the field in Cape Town a very confident unit. Can they win the series from 2-1 down?

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Key to a South Africa win

The Proteas have done well setting platforms in this series, but their inability to take advantage has been concerning. They were on track for strong totals in Port Elizabeth and Johnnesburg, only to underwhelm. Interestingly, when they have lost early wickets, they recovered well enough to win in Durban. However, they have yet to put together the complete display.

Can Quinton de Kock overcome his troubles against left-arm seam and play a substantial knock? He was out for a duck at The Wanderers, and has to put the pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers in a crunch game. Each of Hashim Amla, Reeza Hendricks, Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen have looked good in this series, and you feel at least two or three of those players must make strong contributions to enable South Africa to launch towards the end. For that to happen, David Miller, short on batting time, has to deliver to boost South African confidence in a World Cup year.

Also, can the Proteas get the better of Pakistan’s top order a’la Durban? They dismantled Pakistan that day through effective use of the short ball, but have lacked penetration since, picking up eight wickets across two matches. Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada have a key role to play in dismissing the in-form Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam to help set the game up for the Proteas. With those two key man out, South Africa can then look to target Pakistan’s middle order that might find it difficult to rebuild. Will it be South Africa’s day?

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Key to a Pakistan win

Pakistan’s template for strong scores has been set. Imam-ul-Haq has been rock solid for the most part this series, and if he and Fakhar Zaman can deliver a strong start as they did in the fourth ODI, South Africa might begin to feel the pressure. With Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez also in good form, Pakistan have the resources to enable a strong launch with wickets in hand, which is crucial in a decider. Pakistan’s top four, bar Fakhar Zaman, have been mostly excellent this series, and need to be once again to deliver series victory.

Also, can the left-armers create more havoc for the Proteas? Shaheen Shah Afridi started superbly for Pakistan in Johannesburg, backed up by Amir, with the job then finished emphatically by Usman Khan Shinwari. These three will be key again in getting the better of South Africa’s top order to increase the pressure on those batting lower. With Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim bowling relatively tightly this series, Shoaib Malik can hope to execute a well-rounded bowling performance that doesn’t give the Proteas a chance to properly get going. Will Pakistan get the better of the openers? What about the likes of Faf du Plessis, Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen? It is all to play for in the series decider.

Possible Playing 11:

It will be interesting to see if South Africa make changes for a crunch game. Instinct suggests they could replace Andile Phehlukwayo with Dwaine Pretorius or Wiaan Mulder, who is now in the squad. Other than that, no significant changes should be expected.

South Africa Possible Playing 11: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Hashim Amla, 3. Reeza Hendricks, 4. Faf du Plessis (c), 5. Rassie van der Dussen, 6. David Miller, 7. Andile Phehlukwayo/Dwaine Pretorius/Wiaan Mulder, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Dale Steyn, 10. Beuran Hendricks, 11. Imran Tahir

For Pakistan, the possible change before the last game, apart from Sarfraz, was Shan Masood for Fakhar Zaman. However, Zaman played his most significant knock of the series, so Pakistan should stick with the same team.

Pakistan Possible Playing 11: 1. Imam-ul-Haq, 2. Fakhar Zaman, 3. Babar Azam, 4. Mohammad Hafeez, 5. Shoaib Malik (c), 6. Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7. Shadab Khan, 8. Imad Wasim, 9. Mohammar Amir, 10. Usman Khan Shinwari, 11. Shaheen Shah Afridi

Dream11 Prediction

• Quinton de Kock has been out cheaply to left-arm bowling in each of his last three dismissals in ODIs (excluding run-outs). Mohammad Rizwan has been in excellent form for Pakistan’s A and Emerging sides in the lead up to this series.
• Hashim Amla has an underwhelming record at Newlands, scoring 191 runs in seven matches.
• Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen have been good for South Africa this series, with Faf du Plessis on the verge of a big score.
• Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam have been Pakistan’s best batsmen this series, scoring 263 and 171 runs respectively.
• Usman Khan Shinwari and Shaheen Shah Afridi combined for six wickets in the last match.
• Keep an eye out for more news on South Africa’s allrounder for this clash. With Wiaan Mulder drafted into the squad, there is a chance Andile Phehlukwayo won’t play.
• Imran Tahir has a decent record at Newlands, taking eight wickets in five matches.

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Stats and Facts

• Pakistan won their last ODI at Newlands, beating South Africa by 23 runs in 2013.
• South Africa have never lost to Pakistan in a bilateral ODI series at home.
• Both Usman Khan Shinwari and Shaheen Shah Afridi have taken two wickets per match so far in their ODI careers. Shinwari has 22 wickets in 11 matches, and Afridi has 18 in nine matches.

Match Prediction

A really tough one to predict.

South Africa remain a good side at home, and I picked them to take out the series in Johannesburg. However, Pakistan are looking a confident side right now, and I have a sneaky feeling they will take out this series in a close one.

Should be a good match.

Thanks for reading!

South Africa vs Pakistan 5th ODI Preview Dream11

South Africa vs Pakistan 5th ODI Preview Dream11