In need of a win, Pakistan take on the high-scoring South Africa in the 26th game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Here’s a look at three key battles that could decide the game.
A surprise slip against the Netherlands aside, South Africa have enjoyed a stellar first half of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 League Stage. Racking up three 300+ and one 400+ scores in their first five games, the South Africans are comfortably the highest-scoring team in the tournament so far and look set to qualify for the knockout stage, barring any late mishaps. (Match Blog | Scorecard | Streaming | Full Coverage)
Pakistan, meanwhile, have faltered after a brilliant start; they have lost their last three games against India, Australia, and, surprisingly, Afghanistan after winning their opening pair against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, respectively. With the tailing teams threatening to catch up to them, and a playoff spot still just out of reach, Pakistan will hope to use the match against South Africa as the springboard to propel themselves into the final four.
Besting the South Africans, however, won’t be easy. Betting on the explosive might of Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, and Heinrich Klaasen, South Africa have blown teams out of the water in four of their five games so far. Pakistan are yet to hit the same heights, but they do possess an outstanding bowling attack to stop the South African onslaught in its wake.
Here are three key battles to watch out for in match 26 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - Pakistan vs South Africa:
Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Quinton de Kock
With 407 runs from five outings at an average of just over 80, Quinton de Kock has supplanted home favourite Virat Kohli as the most prolific batter of the ICC World Cup 2023 midway through. Three of his five innings have yielded a century, including a tournament-high 174 from 140 delivered against Bangladesh in the previous match. To counter the threat De Kock possesses, Pakistan will surely rely on the outstanding Shaheen Afridi, whose ten wickets are the most of any bowler in the team’s bowling attack.
Shadab Khan vs Heinrich Klaasen
De Kock may have led the South African attack with his bat, but he has had ample support from a stellar cast led by the experienced Heinrich Klaasen. The 32-year-old is the second-highest scorer in the South African team with 288 runs in five games and himself scored a ton in the team’s triumph over England. Anchoring the innings from his spot in the middle order, Klaasen is likely to come across Pakistan’s Shadab Khan at some point in the game. The spinner has not enjoyed the best of tournaments but holds enough quality in his hands to stump the high-flying Klaasen.
Babar Azam vs Kagiso Rabada
A quarter of a ton in Pakistan’s previous game - albeit in a defeat against Afghanistan - gave some much-needed reprieve to Babar Azam, who, after a shaky start to the tournament, seems to have finally found his footing. The top-ranked batter in the world going into the ICC World Cup 2023, Babar is likely to stare down the pitch at the sight of an accelerating Kagiso Rabada at some point in the game against South Africa. Rabada, still as dangerous as ever with the ball, can stop the Pakistan talisman in his tracks, and their battle could likely determine the outcome of the game.