Pakistan out to thwart South Africa’s final-two push in Group 2

Pakistan versus South Africa. The match that will decide who finishes at first and second in Group 2 of the 2022 ICC Men’s World Cup. India have taken back top spot by beating Bangladesh in Adelaide on Wednesday, which now leaves South Africa, with five points to India’s six, at second. Pakistan are at fifth with three, behind Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

This has been a very trick group. After a washout with Zimbabwe, South Africa hammered Bangladesh and held off India to put one foot in the semi-finals. If not for rain in Hobart, they might have already been into the final four. All they need to do now is beat Pakistan and not leave it until Sunday in Adelaide where Netherlands remain.

Pakistan might still be dazed from that loss to India in Melbourne, but in truth they will look at the stunning defeat to Zimbabwe as the point where their World Cup run went from ‘what if?’ to ‘how the heck?’. Mathematically there is a chance that Babar Azam’s team makes the semi-finals, but India’s loss to South Africa has not helped. Pakistan have to beat South Africa and then Bangladesh on Sunday in Adelaide, and by big margins, and then look elsewhere in Group 2 for favourable results.

Netherlands beating Zimbabwe on Wednesday has helped Pakistan, but they now need Zimbabwe to beat India on Sunday so that it comes down to net run-rate given that then three teams will have three wins each.

TEAM NEWS

South Africa

No need for changes in the bowling, given how well the fast men operated against India. Has the time come, however, for Reeza Hendricks to play at all costs? This would mean benching Tristan Stubbs, who so far in his first World Cup has scores of 7 and 6.

South Africa likely XI: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Temba Bavuma (capt), 3 Reeza Hendricks, 4 Rilee Roussow, 5 Aiden Markram, 6 David Miller, 7 Wayne Parnell, 8 Kagiso Rabada, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Anrich Nortje,11 Lungi Ngidi

Pakistan

Fakhan Zaman twisted his knee in the previous match and is not available. Haider Ali should slot back in, with Shan Masood bumped back up to one-down.

Pakistan likely XI: 1 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 2 Babar Azam (capt), 3 Shan Masood, 4 Haider Ali, 5 Iftikhar Ahmed, 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Mohammad Wasim, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Shaheen Afridi

PITCH & CONDITIONS

Rain is forecast, which isn’t good news for anyone. The average score at Adelaide Oval in day-night T20s is about 170-175, which means that whoever bats first will have to step on it inside the Powerplay.

PREDICTION

Pakistan are unpredictable at the best of times, so in such a dire situation what can we say? South Africa have not had a bad match and look the best side in the group, man to man, team to team. But in such a high-stakes match, one gets the feeling that Pakistan could just do something very Pakistan-like, and put one past South Africa. Expect another ripper of a game.