South Africa vs Pakistan 2021, 2nd ODI: Match Preview And Prediction

The hosts South Africa and the visitors Pakistan will again take on each other in the second game of the three-match ODI series this Sunday (4th April) at The Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg).

Currently, Pakistan are leading this ODI series by a 1-0 margin as they won the first ODI by three wickets. After South Africa managed the first innings total of 273/6 (50 overs), the visitors just managed to chase the target on the final ball after losing seven wickets.

During the second ODI, South African players will wear the pink jersey to raise money for breast cancer awareness and treatment.

South Africa vs Pakistan 2021, 2nd ODI: Match Preview

South Africa

In the first ODI, the hosts South Africa incredibly fought back in both innings but they just failed to claim an almost stunning victory. Now, the Proteas have to win both the remaining matches to win this series as another defeat will end their hope to win this home series, which is also their first ODI series under 2020-23 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League. The hosts are ready to play the upcoming ODI in the pink dress.

While South African batsmen failed to provide a good start, Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller not only rescued the team from 55/4 but also set up the tone for a challenging first innings total. While Miller scored 50 runs and later batsmen also provided strong help (Andile Phehlukwayo 29 and Kagiso Rabada 13*), Rassie van der Dussen scored his first international century and scored 123 not out off 134 balls.

Pacer Kagiso Rabada provided a good start after he bowled the opener Fakhar Zaman for just 8 runs in the third over. But another opener Imam-ul-Haq and captain Babar Azam put the giant partnership for the second wicket to make the chase easier in the middle stage. But then Anrich Nortje struck hard with four quick wickets in four overs, including the dismissals of set batsmen Imam and centurion skipper Babar.

In the death overs, Pakistan controlled the game once again by not losing further wickets. But Andile Phehlukwayo’s desperate bowling suddenly made the game interesting in the final moment. Though Nortje (4/51) and Phehlukwayo (2/56), the hosts just failed to win that ODI.

Full Squad

Temba Bavuma (C), Quinton de Kock (wk), Beuran Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon-Jon Smuts, Rassie van der Dussen, Junior Dala, Lutho Sipamla, Wiaan Mulder, Sisanda Magala, Kyle Verreynne, Daryn Dupavillon, Lizaad Williams.

Pakistan

Despite having strong positions in both the innings, the visitors Pakistan almost suffered a shocking defeat in the opening game of this series. While another victory will help them to win this crucial away ODI series, the visitors will not want to repeat those mistakes.

Though Pakistan bowlers set up a good start by pressurizing the hosts for 55/4, they lose their grip in that innings by not maintaining the controlled bowling. Despite the hosts were under pressure, they ultimately scored 273 runs. Though Shaheen Shah Afridi (2/61) and Haris Rauf (2/72) got two wickets each, Faheem Ashraf actually had the best control in that complete innings as he finished with bowling figures of 9-0-25-1.

In that chasing, opener Imam-ul-Haq and captain Babar Azam built up the 177 runs partnership for the second wicket which set up the chasing process comfortable. Babar scored his 13th ODI century in style but then both those set batsmen lost their wickets (Babar 103 and Imam 70) and Pakistan suddenly lost their momentums.

In-form Mohammad Rizwan (40) and Shadab Khan (33) controlled the death overs but the shaking moment continued in the last stage of the game as both those batsmen also returned to the pavilion before securing the victory. Despite facing three straight dot balls in the last over, Faheem Ashraf just managed to secure the victory on the last ball of the game.

Apart from the death overs, middle-order batting failure almost brought in pain for the visitors in the first ODI.

Full Squad

Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Danish Aziz, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Asif Ali (as a replacement of Saud Shakeel), Shaheen Shah Afridi and Usman Qadir

South Africa vs Pakistan 2021, 2nd ODI: Match Prediction

The first ODI was really tight as both teams put desperate performances till the end of the game. Series-leader Pakistan have an advantage, but the hosts South Africa will try their best to level the series by maintaining their good records in pink jersey.