Pakistan has the ODI series in the bag as the teams head to The Wanderers for the final game of the series. With nothing at stake and playing at altitude this is a great chance for the batsmen to have a go.
The Wanderers is a venue that favours the side batting second. In recent games 61.5% of the time the side that bowls first has won.
South Africa vs Pakistan | Third ODI | Sunday 22 December 2024 | The Wanderers, Johannesburg | 14:00
South Africa
Heinrich Klaasen looked good once again for South Africa in cape Town. He’s come into form at a good time and heads into the final game of the series off the back of scores of 86 and 97.
He will be hoping to capitalise on his good form because overall his record at the Wanderers is not very good. He averages 23.50 at the venue markedly lower than his career average of 42.35.
The Proteas will be without Ottneil Baartman for the final ODI. He has hurt his knee and been replaced in the squad by Titans quick Corbin Bosch (son of the late Proteas quick Tertius Bosch).
Bosch could well get a run as he has been included in the Test squad for the Boxing Day game and a debut in a low-stakes, dead-rubber game could be a smart strategic move.
After Quinton de Kock, David Miller is South Africa’s most successful batsman at the Wanderers. He averages 53.7 from his 13 knocks at the venue.
Andile Phehlukwayo is often a forgotten hero and his numbers at the Wanderers are good. He averages 33 with the bat and 32 with the ball at the venue and could well be a useful contributor for the Proteas again.
With 17 wickets at an average of 19.53 the Wanderers is a happy hunting ground for Kagiso Rabada. He may well be rested for the game ahead of the Test series, but if he plays, expect wickets.
Marco Jansen has played fewer games than Rabada at the venue, but it’s safe to say it’s a place that holds good memories for him.
Last time he played there he took five for 39 against Australia after he had earlier knocked them around for a quickfire 47 off 23 balls. Jansen will arrive in Johannesburg with a bowling average of 13 and a batting average of 58.
Pakistan
Haris Rauf is still without a wicket this tour. He may well be rested as he continues to struggle for form.
Abdullah Shafique aside, Pakistan batting has been in good form this series. Poor Shafique has made ducks in both his innings this far, twice dismissed by Marco Jansen. Will he be dropped or will be allowed to stay on at the top of the order to hopefully find some form?
Shafique aside the rest of the Pakistan batting unit has made runs in one of the two previous games. Their batsmen are playing very well as a unit, all contributing to ensure that there are always enough runs on the board.
While Babar Azam is the top ranked ODI batsman in the world, there is little representation from the rest of the Pakistan squad in the top 20 (Mohammad Rizwan is at 24).
But that doesn’t matter because they are a star team, not a team of stars. They always appear relaxed and composed, seemingly know when is right to attack and when is right to consolidate.
Where Babar Azam is at the top if the ODI world rankings, Shaheen Afridi is second for the bowlers. Another solid performance from him in Johannesburg could see him pass Rashid Khan at the to of the rankings.
He has had a good series to date with returns of 4/47 in cape Town and 1/46. He likes to do damage in his second spells, which he achieved with marked success in Cape Town, ripping the Proteas middle order apart.
Verdict: South Africa
They have to get it right at some point. We backed them in the previous two and they failed, surely home ground advantage, the freedom of a dead rubber and excellent past performances from key players at the venue will be enough to see them home.
