News

Exclusive

Schedule/Results

Debate

Points Tally

Trivia

Women's T20 World Cup

Photos

ICC World T20, Super Eight: South Africa vs Pakistan - Preview

Last Updated: Friday, September 28, 2012, 09:56

Tags: South Africa vs Pakistan, ICC World Twenty20 Super Eight, ICC T20 World Cup

ICC World T20, Super Eight: South Africa vs Pakistan - Preview

Colombo: They have so far maintained a clean slate and there is very little to separate the two teams as South Africa lock horns with Pakistan in what is expected to be a battle of attrition in their ICC World Twenty20 Super Eight match on Friday.

Both teams will be equally confident after their emphatic showings in the group stage of the tournament, and it will be interesting to see who emerges winner at the R Premadasa Stadium stadium.

Pakistan, winner of the 2009 edition, won both their group league matches with ease.

If skipper Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed shone in their win over New Zealand, Imran Nazir led the way with an onslaught that left the Bangladesh bowlers shell-shocked in their last game.

Hafeez deserves mention as he led admirably with both bat and ball, his canny off-spinners often proving to be a perfect foil for Saeed Ajmal, who has become a sort of a headache for batsmen the world over.

Flashy wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has also shown glimpses of his brilliance and looked in good nick against their South Asian rivals.

Pacers Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir haven`t really fired, but Yasir Arafat made an impact with three Bangladeshi wickets, and Pakistan are unlikely to make any changes to the squad that played in the last game.

The match assumes more significance for Pakistan as a win against the Proteas will put them in the perfect frame of mind ahead of the big-ticket encounter with arch-rival India on Sunday.

South Africa have been their consistent self in the group stage, but the real tournament starts now, and more so for the Proteas.

The shocking 2011 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to New Zealand still fresh in mind, South Africa would once again would look to shed the tag of perennial chokers in ICC tournament, and a win tomorrow will be a positive step in that direction.

A look at their performance in the group stage will only add to South Africa`s confidence going into the competitive round.

Led by the explosive A B de Villiers, the team hammered neighbours Zimbabwe by 10 wickets to start the tournament in the best possible manner.

In the rain-reduced seven-over hit against hosts Sri Lanka, the Proteas were well served by the skipper, who helped them to a 32-run win in Hambantota.

There is no dearth of strokemakers in the SA line-up and right from the in-form Hashim Amla to the great Jacques Kallis, each one of them is capable of single-handedly turning a match on its head.

The presence of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and his brother Albie make for an effective pace battery.

Teams (from):

Pakistan: Mohammed Hafeez (c), Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq, Imran Nazir, Kamram Akmal, Mohammed Sami, Nasir Jamshed, Raza Hasan, Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat.

South Africa: AB de Villiers (c), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Johan Botha, JP Duminy, Francois du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

PTI

First Published: Thursday, September 27, 2012, 14:03

Comments

akash rajput - nics
india is faist

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

Azhar nadeem - Gojra
I think pakistan is more balanced than africa because they have strong dangerous batting with strong bowling.

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

mosin - hyd
gud , it`s realy treat 2 watch them,both r hav equal strenth, but who r confidence they win,never giv up,

Post your Comments X
Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

Pages: 1

Post your Comments

Name
Place :
Email :
Comments :

other story


Pakistan team gets backing of PCB chairman ICC suspends six International umpires caught in match fixing

Pic Gallery

ICC T20 World Cup 2012
West Indies' cricketer Marlon Samuels poses with his Man of the Match award after his team's win over Sri Lanka in the ICC Twenty20 Cricket World C..»

points tally

Women's T20 World Cup

Australian eves beat England to win Women`s World T20 c`ship

Videos


Shooter Tara Sahdev alleges husband of forceful conversion		Bad days ahead for Dhoni?

ICC World T20, Super Eight: South Africa vs Pakistan - Preview

Comments

Post your Comments

Post your Comments

Post your Comments

Post your Comments

Most liked Comments

Comments

Comments