🏏Cricket World Cup 2023: Match #26: Pakistan vs South Africa at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on 27/10/2023 at 2:00 PM IST 🏏
Red-hot South Africa look to break 24-year jinx against teetering Pakistan
South Africa's last win in ODI World Cups against Pakistan came in 1999, but they come into this game strong favourites
As one campaign unravels, another gathers full steam. It's a familiar theme for Pakistan and South Africa across much of ICC tournament history. While South Africa have often looked among the most formidable sides in the early stages of these tournaments, Pakistan stutter and stall until they've left themselves with no margin for error, and then they roar into life. This fixture, timed to coincide with that point of crossroads in the World Cup group stages, gives that narrative the extra thrust for South Africa to be that little bit warier, and Pakistan slightly more optimistic.
But South Africa are looking to make history at this World Cup, while Pakistan are in danger of being consigned to it. The ferocious brilliance of South Africa has combined with clinical effectiveness, lending that side a steel and ruthlessness they have often been accused of lacking. The team might always look a batter light with Marco Jansen in at seven, but with nearly all of the top six in such glistening form, no side bar Netherlands have been able to burrow their way deeper into that line-up until explosive damage has already been done.
South Africa will still look at their bowling and conclude there's room for improvement, unusual for a side where not a single bowler has ended up wicketless in any of their five games thus far. Though both the pace battery and the spin attack have had few problems blowing top orders out, getting rid of the lower order has proved troublesome in nearly every game. While the batters have offered enough cover for Temba Bavuma's side not to overly concern themselves, it was arguably responsible for their only defeat, a freak loss against Netherlands when they were allowed to get to 245 for 8 after losing their seventh wicket at 140.
Compared to Pakistan, though, these are cricket's versions of first-world problems. Pakistan have slightly greater worries than complaints that they only beat the defending champions by 229 rather than the 300 runs that they wanted. After a shaky start to the tournament that still saw them post two wins in two, Pakistan have now lost three games on the bounce, the last one a chastening eight-wicket trouncing at Afghanistan's hands. For a side that prides itself on the lethality of its pace attack, that department has looked almost historically toothless, with each of Sri Lanka, India, Australia and Afghanistan putting them to the sword.
While the batting has, at times, fared better, the top order which formed the core of their run-scoring ballast is now a shell of its former self. Abdullah Shafique has produced some substance to go with his style, but with Fakhar Zaman injured and Babar Azam having lost that almost mechanical trait of relentless accumulation, the middle order has been exposed to a greater degree than it is prepared for. Shadab Khan's woeful form with the ball has led to questions about his place in the side and messed with the batting order, too, and against Australia it effectively stripped them of an extra batter. Add to that the pressure of every game being a knockout, and history, rather than quality, looks increasingly like the only reason Pakistan might have further hopes of progressing.
The PCB itself appears to see the writing on the wall by issuing a bizarre statement urging fans to continue to support the team. Somewhat cynically, it indulged in a little self-preservation of its own, firmly pointing the finger at under-fire captain Babar and chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq for selecting the team.
While ignominy possibly awaits Pakistan, South Africa eye glory. The two sides in resplendent green could not look more different from each other at present.
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