- The ODI Cricket match between PAK and SA will take place on Friday, 27 October 2023 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
- This will be the Match 26 of the ICC CWC, 2023.
- These two teams have crossed paths five times in ODI World Cups. Pakistan has secured victory on three occasions, while South Africa has triumphed twice.
- Pakistan will have to win all of their remaining four matches to have a chance of qualifying for the semifinals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 20233. They have underperformed in all three departments and have lost three games in a row, including a humiliating defeat to Afghanistan.
- South Africa have won four out of their five matches so far, losing only to Netherlands in a shock result. They have been dominant with both bat and ball, scoring over 300 runs in three of their matches and restricting their opponents to below 250 in four of them.
- Quinton de Kock has been their leading run-scorer with 317 runs, including two centuries, while Adam Zampa has been their most successful bowler with 12 wickets, including a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka.
- South Africa hold a considerable edge over Pakistan in their meetings, with 50 wins in 82 ODIs4. South Africa’s last win in ODI World Cups against Pakistan came in 1999, but they come into this game strong favourites.
Pakistan will face South Africa in a do-or-die match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. Pakistan need to win all of their remaining four matches to have any chance of making it to the semi-finals, while South Africa are already in a comfortable position with four wins out of five. The match promises to be a thrilling contest between two teams with contrasting fortunes and forms.
Pakistan’s woes continue
Pakistan have had a dismal campaign so far, losing three out of their five matches, including a humiliating defeat to Afghanistan by 10 wickets. They have been inconsistent and underwhelming in all three departments, failing to score big runs, take wickets or field well. Their batting has been dependent on Babar Azam, who has scored 247 runs at an average of 49.40, but has not received much support from the other batsmen. Their bowling has been lacklustre, with only Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf taking more than five wickets each. Their fielding has been sloppy, with several dropped catches and misfields. Pakistan will have to improve drastically in all aspects if they want to challenge South Africa.
South Africa’s dominance
South Africa have been one of the most impressive teams in the tournament, winning four out of their five matches, losing only to Netherlands in a shock result. They have been dominant with both bat and ball, scoring over 300 runs in three of their matches and restricting their opponents to below 250 in four of them. Their batting has been led by Quinton de Kock, who has scored 317 runs at an average of 63.40, including two centuries. He has been well supported by Rassie van der Dussen, who has scored 237 runs at an average of 59.25, and Faf du Plessis, who has scored 211 runs at an average of 52.75. Their bowling has been spearheaded by Adam Zampa, who has taken 12 wickets at an average of 18.66, including a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka. He has been ably assisted by Kagiso Rabada, who has taken nine wickets at an average of 23.66, and Lungi Ngidi, who has taken eight wickets at an average of 24.50. South Africa have also been excellent in the field, taking some stunning catches and saving runs.
Head-to-head record
South Africa hold a considerable edge over Pakistan in their meetings, with 50 wins in 82 ODIs. In World Cups, they have faced each other five times, with Pakistan winning three and South Africa winning two. The last time they met in a World Cup was in 2019, when Pakistan won by 49 runs at Lord’s. However, South Africa have won four out of their last five ODIs against Pakistan, including a 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan earlier this year.
Key players to watch
- Babar Azam: The Pakistan captain is the only batsman in his team who has looked in good touch and form. He is the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament and will have to play a big innings if Pakistan want to post a competitive total or chase down a target.
- Shaheen Afridi: The left-arm pacer is the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan and has been their most potent weapon with the ball. He can swing the ball both ways and trouble the batsmen with his pace and bounce. He will have to strike early and often to put pressure on South Africa’s strong batting line-up.
- Quinton de Kock: The South African opener is the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament and has been in sublime form. He can take the game away from any opposition with his aggressive and fluent batting. He will look to continue his run-scoring spree and give South Africa a solid start.
- Adam Zampa: The leg-spinner is the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament and has been South Africa’s trump card with the ball. He can spin the ball both ways and deceive the batsmen with his variations and googlies. He will look to exploit Pakistan’s weakness against spin and break their partnerships.
Pitch and weather conditions
The pitch at Chennai is expected to be slow and low, offering some turn and bounce for the spinners. The batsmen will have to be patient and play according to the conditions. The weather is forecasted to be sunny and hot, with no chance of rain.
Match details
The match will start at 1:30 PM IST on Friday, October 27, 2023. The match will be telecasted live on Star Sports Network and streamed online on Hotstar.
Prediction
South Africa are the clear favourites to win this match, given their superior form and performance. Pakistan will have to play out of their skins to pull off an upset. We predict South Africa to win by 40 runs or six wickets.
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