SOUTH AFRICA
vs
PAKISTAN
2013
...
Fixtures
Pakistan in South Africa 2013-14
Steyn, Kallis ruled out of final ODI
Dale Steyn, South Africa's premier fast bowler, and veteran allrounder Jacques Kallis have been ruled out of South Africa's third ODI against Pakistan with injury niggles.
Steyn has a mild left side strain while Kallis, who made his comeback to the 50-over format at the start of the series, has a badly sprained joint on the little finger of his right hand.
The pair were released from the squad for the final match against Pakistan, who are aiming for a 3-0 sweep, as a precautionary measure so they could be in "prime condition," for the upcoming series against India, according to team manager Mohammad Moosajee.
South Africa are in the midst of a busy limited-overs programme which includes 11 ODIs and four T20s in the space of six weeks and it seems to be taking its toll on some players.
Steyn played in all four T20s but in only four of the seven ODIs. He was seen in some discomfort during first ODI in Cape Town on Sunday, where he was holding his left side but played in the second match of the series in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday. This is not his first side strain this year - the condition also plagued him during the Champions Trophy.
Kallis's problem may be more of a concern. He made a return to the ODI team after an absence of a year and nine months as part of a plan to play in the 2015 World Cup. At 38, he scored a half-century in the first ODI and looked to be settling back into the side.
He replaced Faf du Plesiss - who was dropped for the series against Pakistan and India - which leaves South Africa without a replacement batsman. Wayne Parnell may be brought in as an additional allrounder with Ryan McLaren also likely to feature in Saturday's XI.
Morne Morkel, who did not play the previous ODI and was also rested from one of the T20s, or Vernon Philander are the candidates to replace Steyn.
South Africa v Pakistan, 3rd ODI, Centurion
Pakistan's chance to stamp authority
Usually once a series is won there is not much to get excited about but this is a little different. Pakistan, who have already racked up what their captain Misbah-ul-Haq called "a really big achievement" by beating South Africa for the first time in a bilateral series, stand to add to it. Victory at Centurion will make them only the second team to whitewash South Africa in an ODI series of three matches.
Although South Africa will be concerned with avoiding that fate, they also have the smaller picture to consider. While the Twenty20 side has found its rhythm, the ODI outfit cannot seem to do the same. Batting inconsistencies continue to work against them and even though one game cannot help them fix it, it may be an opportunity to solve some problems.
Without Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, some of South Africa's next generation will be on display and with public speculation mounting about whether there is space for the two stalwarts in the set-up, this will be the chance to see. The middle-order focus will be on David Miller, who hasn't been his usual destructive self, with the bowling expected to perform as they have throughout the recent ODI matches.
Pakistan will also want batting improvements if there are to seize their chance for total domination. Even if their top-order fail again they will back their bowlers to make up for any lapses, as has been the case in the opening two rubbers.
Along with a South Africa revival, Pakistan's goal may be spoiled by afternoon thunderstorms which have come down all week and are forecast for Saturday. Should the heavens open again, it may put an early end to the series which is now in its sixth week of limited-overs clashes.
Form guide
(last five completed games most recent first)
Pakistan WWLLLW
South Africa LLWWW
In the spotlight
The promising start Henry Davids made to his international career unravelled in his last six T20s. He has only managed single-figure scores, appeared to be struggling on subcontinental surfaces and against quality spinners but was also asked to bat in the middle order, where he was more exposed. He has not played an ODI for South Africa yet, although he has the domestic record that suggests he should have, and it may be a chance to show he has what it takes to play at the highest level. On his home ground in a dead rubber, Davids will be faced with pleasant pressure although he may still bat outside of his preferred position in the top two.
Mohammad Hafeez has not contributed significantly with the bat in seven ODIs, all against South Africa, since his undefeated 136 against Zimbabwe. Without Dale Steyn in the opposition attack, Hafeez will fancy his chances of registering a worthwhile score and breaking a run drought against a team who has not been able to assert himself over with bat in hand.
Team news
South Africa are without three of their biggest names which will force them to make substantial alterations to their XI. Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis are out with injury niggles while Graeme Smith has been given compassionate leave after his grandmother died.
Quinton de Kock is an opener by trade and could replace Smith in the top two but because he has shown he can adjust to the No. 3 position as well, it may make allow Henry Davids to bat in his usual position as an opener. Vernon Philander will likely come back in for Steyn while Ryan McLaren and Wayne Parnell will have to fight it out for the allrounders' spot.
South Africa: (possible) 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Henry Davids, 3 Quinton de Kock (wkt) 4 AB de Villiers (capt), 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller, 7 Wayne Parnell, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Lonwabo Tsoosbe, 11 Imran Tahir
Although changing a winning combination isn't the done thing, Pakistan may still have reason to make one change to their XI. With Nasir Jamshed continually misfiring and no Steyn to trouble Mohammad Hafeez early on, they could pair Hafeez with Ahmed Shehzad at the top and bring Umar Amin into the middle order to bolster the batting.
Pakistan: (possible) 1 Ahmed Shehzad, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Sohaib Maqsood, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Umar Akmal (wkt), 7 Umar Amin, 7 Shahid Afridi, 9 Bilawal Bhatti, 9 Anwar Ali, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Junaid Khan
Stats and trivia
The last time South Africa lost all the matches scheduled in a one-day series was against Sri Lanka in 2004 when they were defeated 5-0 away from home. Before that, they were last swept in England in 1994.
Excluding series against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, Pakistan last swept a one-day series away from home in 2005, 3-0 against West Indies Quotes
"There's a lot to play for. From an opportunity point of view, it's really good for the other guys to get a go. We know we've got India in a few days' time. To create winning momentum is going to be important for us."
Despite the match's dead-rubber status Hashim Amla found a reason for South Africa to treat the fixture with the same intensity as any other.
8) Pakista k playes is dafa bohat zaida acha kheley hein aur match win kiye hein achey tareekey sy
Last edited by *jamshed*; 30-11-2013 at 02:34 AM.
کہاں اتنی سزائیں تھیں بھلا اس زندگانی میں
ہزاروں گھر ہوئے روشن جو میرا دل جلا محسنؔ
1-Mujhy to pata hi nahi hai aaj kal kay kon jeet rha hai hai kon har rha hai
batting fir se collapse kar gayi .. na junaid na hafeez na afridi inhaan nu hun out kon karay ga .. plate main rakh k match diya hai Paki ne >
RSA 29/0
4.2
Amla out ho ja boht khail liya hai na aj 98 banaogey to baqi becharay batsmen bore hojayengay
Wicketttt !!!
Q de Kock c Saeed Ajmal b Bilawal Bhatti 15
Q de Kock ta da
Wicketttt !!!
Jadugar Stirkesssss
H Davids st †Umar Akmal b Saeed Ajmal 7
Davids Debutant
Last 5 ovs 10/1 RR 2.00
South Africa 49/2 (10.5 ov)
Amlaaaaaa na kar out hojao 37 bana liya hai