Image Credit- ICC
As one campaign comes to an end, another gains
momentum. For the most part of the history of the ICC event, Pakistan and South
Africa have been involved in it. In these tournaments, Pakistan stutters and
stalls until they leave themselves with no margin for error, at which point
they explode into life. In contrast, South Africa has often appeared like one
of the most formidable sides in the early going. This match, which is scheduled
to take place at that pivotal point in the World Cup group stages, adds momentum
to the story by making Pakistan appear somewhat more upbeat and South Africa
appear a little more cautious.
However, Pakistan could be eliminated from this World
Cup while South Africa hopes to create history. South Africa’s clinical
effectiveness and ferocious brilliance have combined to give that side a steel
and ruthlessness that they have sometimes been accused of lacking. With Marco
Jansen starting at number seven, the team may always appear thin, but with
almost every player in the top six in such brilliant form, no team, save
Netherlands, has been able to penetrate that lineup until devastating damage has
already been done.
Despite not having a bowler go wicket in any of their
five games thus far, South Africa will likely continue to assess their bowling
and determine that it still needs work. Getting rid of the lower order has
proven difficult in almost every game, even though both the pace batteries and
the spin attack have had little trouble blowing away upper orders. Temba
Bavuma’s team hasn’t needed to worry too much because the batsmen have provided
enough cover, but it was perhaps the cause of their lone loss—a bizarre setback
to the Netherlands in which they were able to reach 245 for 8 after losing
their seventh wicket at 140.
These are first-world difficulties in cricket
parlance, compared with Pakistan. Pakistan’s concerns are marginally more than
their dissatisfaction at losing to the reigning champions by 229 runs instead
of the 300 runs they desired. Pakistan had won two of their first three matches
in the competition despite having a rocky start. However, they have since lost
three straight, with Afghanistan humiliating them by eight wickets in the last
match. With each of Sri Lanka, India, Australia, and Afghanistan putting them
to the sword, that department has appeared almost historically feeble for a
squad that takes pride in the ferocity of their speed assault.
The top order, which was the backbone of their
run-scoring ability, has deteriorated over time, despite the fact that the
batting has occasionally performed better. Abdullah Shafique has created some
substance to match his technique, but the middle order has been put through
more than it can handle when Babar Azam lost his almost mechanical quality of
unrelenting accumulation and Fakhar Zaman got hurt. While Pakistan can face
shame, South Africa hopes to shine. Right now, the two sides of brilliant green
could not appear more dissimilar from one another.