In the recent NZ Vs SA match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, New Zealand defeated South Africa. Despite South Africa’s opening batter Matthew Breetzke setting a new record for the highest score on an ODI debut with 150 runs, New Zealand successfully chased down the target of 305 runs with eight balls to spare. Kane Williamson’s unbeaten 133 was instrumental in their victory. Hence, this encounter between Pakistan and South Africa is crucial and a must win for both nations, if they want to keep their hopes of winning this series alive. Let’s see which team is successful in joining the kiwi team in the finals.
Live Streaming Info
Fans can tune in to watch PAK Vs SA live on Tens Sports and A Sports in Pakistan and Sky Sports Network in the UK. This match will be streamed at 9:30 am PST, 10:00 am IST, and 4:30 am GMT.
Pakistan’s middle-order collapse remains a major weakness in their ODI batting lineup, often undoing strong starts. In the recent match against New Zealand, players like Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, and Agha Salman failed to anchor the innings, leading to a batting slump. The team struggles to build partnerships after the top order departs, exposing their vulnerability in pressure situations. This inconsistency disrupts momentum and puts excessive pressure on the lower order. This accompanied with poor form of the Pakistani skipper, Muhammad Rizwan, often leads the team towards being bowled out before 50 overs. Additionally, the absence of Imam-ul-Haq and Saim Ayub adds to a hesitant batting order, which crumbles under slight pressure.
Moreover, Pakistan’s lack of quality spinners weakens their ODI bowling attack, especially in middle overs. Without a reliable wicket-taking spinner, opponents build partnerships easily, putting pressure on the pacers. This limitation was evident against New Zealand, where the absence of a specialist spinner allowed the opposition to dominate. Only Abrar Ahmed is available as a quality spin option and this is a major deficiency in the host team’s squad. However, home crowd and familiarity with pitches is a key advantage for the Pakistani team, which can be used for their advantage in this must-win encounter.
For the Proteas team, Matthew Breetzke is a key asset due to his solid batting technique and consistency at the top order. He provides stability and aggression, allowing the team to build strong foundations in the powerplay. Additionally, his ability to play both pace and spin effectively makes him a reliable option in various conditions. In the recent match against New Zealand, Breetzke made a historic ODI debut by scoring 150 runs off 148 balls, surpassing the previous debut record of 148 set by Desmond Haynes in 1978. His innings included 11 fours and five sixes, contributing significantly to South Africa’s total of 304 for six. His prime form accompanied with immense talent of his opening companion, Tempa Bavuma makes the South African batting lineup one of the cornerstone of this 2nd match.
Lungi Ngidi’s performance in the recent match against New Zealand was notably expensive, as he conceded 70 runs in his spell without taking a wicket. This poor form of South African key pacer is a bit concerning, especially with the Champions Trophy just around the corner. Absence of Kagiso Rabada, Geralt Coeetzee, and Marco Jensen accentuates this deficiency, which can prove to be quite costly for the South African side.
Conclusion
The Pakistan vs. South Africa match in this Tri-Series is crucial for both teams to stay in contention for the final.The key impact players from Pakistan side include Babar Azam, who is crucial for setting the tone with the bat, while Shaheen Afridi can provide early breakthroughs. For South Africa, Aiden Markram offers all-round value, and Kagiso Rabada’s pace and wicket-taking ability will be key in breaking Pakistan’s batting order. If you want to watch Pak vs SA, scroll above and click on the link provided.
