Champions Trophy: Pakistan vs. South Africa, Match 5, Group B – SA Preview

Could Morris make a difference?

South Africa, a team that was deemed to dominate the tournament by the virtue of having the strongest pace attack at the start of the tournament, has been weakened by the absence of Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn owing to injuries. Chris Morris, a Twenty20 star, who is yet to play an ODI, has been flown in as the replacement for Morkel and could be in line for a debut against Pakistan in their second league encounter. Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan Mclaren and Lonwabo Tsotsobe looked off-colour with the ball in the first match against India, although Mclaren impressed everyone with a steady hand with the bat. Robin Peterson was also taken for runs and people will be counting on his experience to trouble the fragile Pakistan batting line-up.

The AB de Villiers-led batting brigade is the strongest of the tournament on paper; but when it comes to choking, no other team could match their skills. De Villiers and Peterson looked in good nick in the last game and so did Hashim Amla, before Umesh Yadav‘s pace set him up to edge one behind to the ‘keeper. Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy did well in the warm-up games but failed to capitalize on the brisk start against India, and the duo would be eager to get going against the mighty Pakistan pace attack today. David Miller was dismissed without facing a ball at Cardiff and he must be thirsty to hit a few balls out of the park in this game.

Conditions

As was witnessed in the England-Australia game earlier, the pitch at Edgbaston could get slower as the game progresses and could assist the spinners in the second innings. A cloudy day with a high of 15 degrees forecast means that the fast bowlers could make hay while the sun doesn’t shine today.

Head to head

The Proteas have never lost to Pakistan in an ICC ODI tournament, and have also managed to win all the six games that they have played at Edgbaston.

Key Player

De Villiers has a huge task cut out with big names missing in the team

If there is someone who could compensate for the weakness in the bowling department, then it must be AB de Villiers. Runs have rarely failed to come off his bat in crucial junctures, and we could expect him to dominate the fiery Pakistan pace attack today. De Villiers is facing even more serious threats as a skipper as he is in for the litmus test with what resembles a second-string pace attack for the Proteas.

South Africa’s strategy

They would not want to chase first as Saeed Ajmal could play a key role with the ball in the second innings. So the think-tank would probably prefer the batters to go out first and put up a huge total on the board as there is a very good chance of the Pakistani batting line-up folding up easily under pressure.

Probable XI

De Villiers has indicated that there would be no change of strategy before crucial matches and hence, they might stick to last match’s combination.

Hashim Amla, Colin Ingram, Robin Peterson, Ab de Villiers(C/WK), Francois du Plessis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Ryan Mclaren, Rory Kleinveldt, Chris Morris, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Prediction

With a handsome win in the warm-up game, form favours Pakistan, while history favours South Africa. Expect de Villiers and Amla to showcase their legendary batting skills against the wily pace trio to give South Africa their first win in the league.