Tri-Nation 2024/25, Pack VS SA 3. Match Match Preview

Big Image: Knockout before knockout

The original Champions Trophy started as a knockout tournament, so when we build up for this year’s edition, here’s a bit of a Throwback: Wednesday’s match between Pakistan and South Africa in the Mini-Tri series is a winner-take-all affair with New Zealand already for Saturday’s final. It won’t be completely do-or-die in Champions Trophy, but groups of four mean that teams can only really afford a slip up from the start, making this match excellent practice for both of these sides.

In the recent form, Pakistan has the upper hand over South Africa, which they cleanse swept 3-0 in December on South African soil for the first time. The result must be warned with the disclaimer that South Africa was undercurrent, although Pakistan will not (and should not) worry about it.

What they want to be interested in is that South Africa is still Hamstrung. They are without half of their Champions Trophy team with Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Derens, David Miller, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada only because of arrival in Pakistan this weekend.

To take full advantage of any benefit, Pakistan’s batting has to do better after being laid off for 252 by New Zealand on Saturday and lost nine wickets for 149 after starting a decent start. Their middle order will be under pressure, but no more than South Africa’s bowling attack, which was unable to defend 304 and lacked bite in their tri series opener. They have been reinforced by the pace of Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka, but will have to combine it with discipline to challenge to a place in the final.

What is at stake is more than just the trophy: the opportunity to have a more competitive match before Champions Trophy starts, and for Pakistan to have a clothing test for the tournament opener. They play New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi, so being able to meet them five days earlier in the same place will be an added bonus. South Africa is also staying in Karachi for their first match against Afghanistan, but before they think about it, they would like to break a losing row that has lasted five matches.

Form Guide: SAS unwanted row

Pakistan: Lwwww (last five ended matches, latest first)
South Africa: Lllll

In the limelight: Fakhar Zaman and Tabraiz Shamsi

After 15 months on the sidelines, Fakhar Zaman made his comeback with 84 out of 69 balls and showed both power and pace to help Pakistan chase a big score. They did not come there, but the early characters from Fakhar are good. He was especially sure to take on the short ball from Will O’Rourke in Lahore and was aggressive against New Zealand’s spinners. Remember, Fak has an average of 50.82 and scored four hundred when he last played in 2023, and it looks like he’s picked up where he left. In Said Ayub’s damage-enforced absence, Pakistan seemed to have found the perfect compensation. Now it’s too Fakhar to show consistency.

Tabraiz Shamsi has bowled 15 overs in four games (across formats), and it’s been 15 overs since he last took a wicket. He had a quiet SA20 for Jo’burg Super Kings, but time comes for Shamsi to step up, especially as South Africa has entered Champions Trophy with only two specialized spinners despite at least two others in good shape. Bjorn Fortunin and George Linde had good SA20s, and although they are usually sidelines because they can’t get past Keshav Maharaj, with a lot of whiteball cricket in the subcontinent in the next year, South Africa may be considering their options. Since Imran Tahir’s Pension in 2019, Shamsi has been South Africa’s leading attacking spinner and there is no better time to show it than now.

HOLD NEWS: RAUF is unlikely that

Haris Rauf left the field after Bowling 6.2 Overs about New Zealand with a side strain, and although considered a low -quality injury, he will not be risked for this fight. Mohammad Hasnain could play in his place. Pakistan may also consider a change in batting-line-up, with Saud Shakeel as a possible replacement for Tayyab Tahir.

Pakistan (Possible): 1 FAKHAR Zaman, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Kamran Ghulam, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (Capt), 5 Salman Agha, 6 Tayyab Tahir/Saud Shakeel, 7 Khusdil Shah, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Ahmed , 11 Mohammad Hasnain

Tony de Zorzi and Corbin Bosch, who are both in the Champions Trophy team as well as 18-year-old left-wing arm Quick Kwena Maphaka, have joined the South African tournament party and are available for selection. De Zorzi and Bosch both played in the SA20 final on Saturday, but can be pulled into XI with Heinrich Klaasen, which South Africa aims to push for a place in the final. Don’t be surprised if Lungi Ngidi sits this out after bowling seven overs – his most since last October – as he continues to work against full fitness. Maphaka could be elected in his place.

South Africa (Possible): 1 Temba Bavuma (Capt), 2 Matthew Breetzke, 3 Tony de Zorzi, 4 Kyle Verreynne (WK), 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 Wiaan Mulder, 7 Senuran Muthusamy, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Kashav Maharaj, 10 Tabraiz Shamsi , 11 kwena maphaka

Pitch and Conditions: Expect another high scoring game

The series moves to Karachi, who last hosted an ODD in May 2023. Then New Zealand successfully defended 299 against Pakistan. In six ODIs here since January 2023, the average first-in-in-the-in-the-time score has been 286, and the team, which has only won five out of the six games. It suggests another rather high scoring meeting, but it may not be the pitch that is most in focus. Like Lahore, Karachi has undergone significant upgrades ahead of Champions Trophy including new dressing rooms and hospitality areas, an increased capacity of 5000, two new digital replay screens and 350 LED lights for improved broadcast coverage.

Statistics and Trivia

South Africa has lost their last five ODDs, which put them on their longest losing series since 2004. They have previously lost ten games in a row in 2004 and 1994.
The last time Pakistan couldn’t make a tri-series final was the Morocco Cup in 2002 when South Africa and Sri Lanka competed for the trophy. Pakistan has since played in six other tri series, but won only one: Kitply Cup between himself, Bangladesh and India in 2008. Pakistan beat India with 25 races in the final.

Quotes

“Tomorrow is obviously a big day for the series. We played Pakistan not long ago, but obviously Pakistan is under their relationship another pyr, so I look forward to it. We just got together today, basically arrived boys only at 2 o’clock this morning there is also a bigger picture in mind [Champions] Trophy is also in play next week, so it’s a good exercise for us. If we can knock them out and play in the final and the home country is not involved, it will at least put a smile on my face. “
Heinrich Klaasen Explaining the importance of what is effectively a semi -final