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South Africa vs Pakistan: First ODI Preview

Cricket ball and bails on field

South Africa completed a comprehensive 3-0 series whitewash over Pakistan in the longest format of the game and will look to repeat the feat in the ODI segment of the series.

The visitors, however, will be far more competitive in the intermediate format of the game where only one place separates Ottis Gibson’s charges in fourth from Mickey Arthur’s men in fifth on the ICC ODI rankings.

South Africa vs Pakistan | Saturday 19 January | St. George’s Park | 13:00

To Win Match
South Africa 42/100
Tie 35/1
Pakistan 37/20

South Africa
I really like the look of the South African ODI squad for the upcoming five-match series. Rassie van der Dussen’s inclusion at this level is long overdue while Reeza Hendricks is afforded another opportunity to show what he can do after impressing in the Mzansi Super League.

Both Dale Steyn and Quinton de Kock will be rested for the first two matches of the series as their load is managed leading up to the World Cup. Duanne Olivier and Aiden Markram have been called into the squad as cover with Heinrich Klaasen expected to keep wicket in de Kock’s absence.

This means that van der Dussen will likely take up the opening berth vacated by de Kock. The number three position will be occupied by either Markram or Hashim Amla, although you can see the latter cracking the nod ahead of the former who hasn’t had the best start to life in the international 50-over cricket.

Bowling-wise, Dane Paterson will probably be afforded an opportunity in the absence of Steyn. Kagiso Rabada will spearhead the attack which will feature any number of Andile Phelukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi and Olivier.

Pakistan
Pakistan are certainly a more formidable unit when it comes to the 50-over format and will definitely take a couple of games off the hosts. In fact, the last time these two sides met in an ODI series on South African shores the Asians narrowly lost out 3-2.

They’ve certainly improved since then too claiming the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 off the back of some incredible bowling performances from Hasan Ali. The seamer struggled a bit in the Test series and will be keen to atone with the white ball.

You feel that the tourists will fare pretty well with the ball. It’s with bat in hand that they’ll need big performances from the likes of Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez. Zaman is the main man here. The 28-year-old boasts an incredible average of 57.95 in ODIs. It’s crucial that he gets going in this series if Pakistan are to stand a chance.

There is no chance of rain according to local weather services so we’ll almost certainly see a full game here. Temperatures will be in the low 20s with as tiff south-westerly set to blow.

Verdict: A hundred to be scored in the match: Yes 9/10
There’ll be plenty of top batting talent on show here and with no rain expected to fall you feel that one of the top order batsmen on either side will grab a century. 8/10 looks an excellent price. 

Written by Jason Dewey for Hollywoodbets

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