The sixth round of matches begin in the ICC Cricket World Cup on Friday when two teams who will be eyeing up a semi-final spot head to Chennai for a huge game as Pakistan take on the impressive South Africa.
Top spot is on offer for 48 hours at least for South Africa but Pakistan will be looking for a win to enhance their claims. They are in a position where another defeat could mean an end to their chances of progressing.
Pakistan
When Pakistan had won their opening two matches they were looking well placed to push on and secure a semi-final spot and make this a positive showing at the World Cup but as so often happens they ran into India and were heavily beaten and that looks to have damaged their confidence as they have lost two more matches since then. Five wins is not looking like it will be enough to progress so Pakistan have to win their last four to keep things in their own destiny.
The big problem that Pakistan have had is their bowling has gone fallen to pieces. They got carted to all parts by India and then Australia and never really had an answer to Afghanistan either and unless that unit starts living up to its reputation this could fade into a bit of a damp squib for Pakistan. Their batting is slowly starting to come alive, particularly Babar Azam which is important, but they probably don’t have enough runs in them unless their bowlers get to grips with things again.
South Africa
South Africa headed to India in good form and with many people liking the look of their side from both a balance and a form point of view. They have done nothing to sway people away from that with four wins in their opening five matches, although the defeat against the Netherlands certainly kept the doubters interested for a while. They go into this one off the back of an emphatic victory over Bangladesh and look like one of the teams to beat along with India.
The key to the success of the South Africans has very much been their batting. They have been brutal with the bat throughout the competition although it has to be said that only tends to be the case when they have batted first. They have won all of their matches batting first but when they had to bat second against the Netherlands they were beaten. Their bowling has been very well balanced but they have had plenty of runs to play with.
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Team News
Pakistan have Fakhar Zaman back available and he is expected to replace Imam-ul-Haq while they will be forced into another change as Hasan Ali has been ruled out with some sort of fever. Mohammad Wasim Jr is likely to come in for him.
South Africa are expected to have their captain Temba Bavuma back for this match. Even though Reeza Hendricks has had a good time of it in his absence, he is the one who is expected to make way for his skipper.
Betting
I’m not a massive fan of betting the over in runs in Chennai but South Africa are batting so well right now that it is hard to avoid it, especially as Afghanistan have just taken this Pakistan attack apart on this ground. With no disrespect meant to anyone, if Afghanistan are getting after that bowling unit then you would have to think that South Africa with the way they are batting are going to get stuck into it as well which bodes well.
This pitch is the same one which New Zealand played Bangladesh on and both sides made 240 that day and I’m expecting a few more runs given the quality in these batting units. Pakistan’s attack has gone absence without leave but I’m not convinced that South Africa are going much better with the ball, it is just that they have had a mountain of runs to fall back on. The run line for this match is 545.5 and I think that can be covered, especially if South Africa bat first and go mad again.
Tips
Back Over 545.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
