PTV Sports:- Pakistan vs South Africa 5th ODI Live Match - 24th March 2013
We are in Benoni, for the 5th Match decider of a closely contested ODI series between South Africa and Pakistan.
You really feel for Rehman-the-bench-warmer. In presence of the spin options like Ajmal, Hafeez, Malik and Afridi being an integral part of the starting line-up, one wonders how to accommodate their hero of the practice match?
Watch out for Pakistan's big-match temperament and South Africa's collective mental strength.
Pakistan vs South Africa 5th ODI Live Match: Channel 1
Pakistan vs South Africa 5th ODI Live Match: Channel 2
Pakistan vs South Africa 5th ODI Live Match: Channel 3
Pakistan vs South Africa 5th ODI Live Match: Channel 4
Pakistan vs South Africa 5th ODI Live Match: Live Scorecard
South Africa has won test series and Pakistan was victorious in Twenty20 series but now, the name of successful team will be declared after the completion of ODI series. Their cricket boards have decided to play five one day matches after T20 series that will start from 10 March 2013 and will end on 24th March. Both the teams are working hard and practicing day and night to become successful in this series.
First match will be played on 10th March at Chevrolet Park in Bloemfontein. In comparison, Pakistani team squad is more professional than South Africa because the team management of South Africa has chosen inexperienced players from their domestic cricket. They are training or testing them for future World Cup 2015 which means that, South Africa will compete in that tournament with somewhat new team that is the best opportunity for the domestic players to get a spot in international eleven. Whereas, Pakistan is still playing with their old players who were impressive in some matches while, totally disappointing in numbers of games.
And now, do some discussion over the two teams for some predictions.
The biggest advantage for South Africa is that they are playing on their home land, which means, they are aware of pitch conditions, they are made according to their standards and styles and are thoroughly aware of all sorts of facts of their track situations. South African bowlers are very happy with this because they know that their rivals’ batsmen are not experienced on these tracks and they will face difficulties. Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Kyle Abbott were knocking with ball in test series and now, they are confident to perform similarly and smash Pakistan lineup. They will be supported by Aaron Phangiso, Ryan McLaren, Robin Peterson and Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Batting lineup consist of experienced top order batsmen that have the capabilities to make high scores for the team. Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Colin Ingram, David Millar, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villars, Farhan Behardien and Ryan McLaren. They were brilliant throughout test series and are now making themselves ready for knocking performances.
On the other hand, Pakistan is one of those teams who have not enough experience on South African surfaces due to which, players were not able to support their team to get success. Although their bowling has been the strongest weapon against opponents but this armor did not seem to be effective in test series. However, Twenty20 series provided thoroughly different face of the team. The players were actually fighting for victory, batting was outstanding, bowling and fielding was impressive. Umar Gul proved himself the best while Mohammad Hafeez also claimed an important spot in the team.
Opening was amazing, Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad were brilliant (though, he is not selected for the one day squad). Middle Order has also played their played their part. Just like that, nation is expecting a lot in one day series. Their middle order has various experienced and knocking players named as Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Misbah ul Haq, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Imran Farhat and Asad Shafiq.
The players have kept their eyes over ODI trophy and they are in great desperation to lift the trophy. They are considered as favorites for ODI series like for Twenty20 series but, they must not have to underestimate South Africa as they are playing on their homeland.
10th March, 2013 will witness explosions of sorts at Bloemfontein when South Africa faces Pakistan in the first one day international cricket match. Both these teams are considered powerhouses in one day arena though South Africans have possibly still not been able to completely shake off the tag of chokers among top notch cricketing nations.
With yet a ball to be bowled in this series only thing that an avid follower might do is to cast a glance at recent performances of these two teams. In that regard Pakistan is miles ahead of South Africa as they have beaten their hosts in the just concluded match at Centurion. While Hafeez hammered a brilliant 86 Umar Gul was not to be left behind as he snared five wickets for a mere unbelievable six runs. Such mayhem left South Africa floundering at a pathetic 100 which happened to be their lowest total ever in a one day international. This sure acted as a soothing balm to the egos of Pakistanis who were bruised and battered by South Africa as the heaped insult on top of injury while crushing and whitewashing their opponents by winning the Test Series 3-0. Such an emphatic win no doubt will bolster the confidence of Pakistanis after the severe mauling they suffered in the Test Series.
In fact, Pakistan can turn the tables on their opponents on any given day but they are notoriously temperamental and have never possibly have performed as a team. They have, instead relied on individual brilliance for their victories. Otherwise who would be willing to believe that a team boasting the presence of destructive and innovative batsmen as Misbah-ul-Haq, the captain, and Imran Farhat and an infinitely talented allrounder as Shahid Afridi, not to mention class bowlers as Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul could be whitewashed by any team in international cricketing arena. Losing a series can very well happen on a few occasions but being whitewashed is too much to digest. But that has indeed happened and Pakistan needed at least one victory before the one day international series commences. They have got what they wanted at Centurion and now they should be straining at their leashes to extract a revenge on South Africans.
South Africans, possibly smug from drubbing their competitors in the Test Series and also could be because of the ennui of first T20 getting washed were not in psychological best when they took on the Pakistanis at Centurion. Else, how could one explain their abject surrender there and, to compound their misery they scored their lowest total ever in a one day international. That must have hurt them the most and they are most certainly equally determined to wipe out the ignominy of Centurion and prove that what had happened there was one of those aberrations.
They have in their midst such dynamos as the captain AB de Villiers who can destroy any team on his day and such rock solid batsmen as Hashim Amla who can grind to dust any opposition bowling attack if he decides to do so. Faf du Plessis can also be a handful and Derryl Steyn is always a menace that opponents dread. So with such a formidable arsenal at their disposal South Africa will sure be very eager to extract revenge on Pakistan.
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