PAKISTAN AIM TO SALVAGE PRIDE
Amla to lead South Africa’s charge in concluding one-dayer at Sharjah Cricket Stadium today
sharjah — Pakistan will seek a consolation victory against South Africa, who have already clinched the fivematch one-day series 3-1, in the fifth and final one-dayer at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Pakistan, who opened their campaign with a one-run defeat in Sharjah, will once again put faith on their spinners to restrict the South African batsmen, who found their form back in the last two ODIs in Abu Dhabi.
The Pakistan spinners bowled superbly in the Sharjah ODI with Saeed Ajmal taking four wickets and Shahid Afridi three, but the team lost their last six wickets for 19 runs while chasing a modest total of 184.
Misbah-ul Haq’s team were again in a comfortable position while chasing 267 for victory in the fourth game in Abu Dhabi, but a late collapse handed South Africa a 28-run victory and a series triumph.
Despite the setback, Pakistan had something to cheer from the last one-dayer when the debutant Sohaib Maqsood smashed a delightful half-century. The 26-year old Punjab batsman hammered six boundaries and two sixes in 77 off 54 balls. His 88-run fourth wicket partnership with skipper Misbah gave Pakistan huge advantage at one stage but the arrival of Dale Steyn, who picked up five wickets, turned the tables decisively in favour of South Africa.
The inclusion of Steyn, who missed the first two one-dayers, proved crucial in South Africa’s series victory as the pacer bagged one for 31 from seven overs in the third ODI and claimed his best one-day figures of five for 25 from 10 overs in the fourth game.
Similarly, the South African batting too improved significantly with young opener Quinton de Kock amassing 152 from two matches, including a magnificent 112 in the fourth ODI.
JP Duminy was also consistent, scoring 140 from four matches at an average of 44.66. Hashim Amla, though missed out in the third game, was at his attacking best in the previous match, making 46. Amla would be the key batsman for South Africa to tackle the Pakistan spinners on a turning track in Sharjah.
On the other hand, Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad was impressive in all the matches as he smashed 191 runs from four matches at an average of 47.75. But inconsistency in the middle-order is a big worry for the think tank.
Both the teams would be keen to win the toss and bat first on a slowtrack here. Besides, teams who have batted first won all the four games in the tournament so far.
Having already clinched the series, South Africa might give chances to Vernon Philander and Robin Peterson in the final eleven.
With three more one-dayers lined-up between the teams in South Africa from November 24, both sides would be keen to end the one-day series in UAE on a high note.
Pakistan will play their ODIs in Cape Town (Nov 24), Port Elizabeth (Nov 27) and Centurion (Nov 30).
Besides the team will play two Twenty20 matches in Johannesburg (Nov 20) and Cape Town (Nov 22).
The Twenty20 matches in UAE will be held at the Dubai Sports City stadium on November 13 and 15.