 The one day series unexpectedly has turned out to be an epic one. Last three games
have been nail biting thrillers and there is no reason why we shouldn't expect
Monday's final match to be a close encounter.
It is winner takes all. Both teams are playing in a rather similar fashion.
On paper it didn't seem so but out in the field these teams are evenly matched.
Pakistan have not won a series since 2008 and South Africa do not want
to lose their way just before World Cup, both sides would be motivated enough
to clinch the series in Dubai Cricket Stadium on eighth November.
Click for Live Score Card of Pakistan Vs South Africa
Pakistan are having troubles picking their playing 11. For the last three games
there have been different sides, even the winning combinations are not retained.
This can be a major problem since World Cup is around the corner. Pakistan's
woe has been batting all along but in this series due to lack of bowling partnerships
their bowling seems to suffer.
The captaincy of Afridi would be under spotlight, going into the final game
of five match series. Pakistan would be looking and hoping for their side to
put up a better team performance rather than one star show.
Abdur Rehman played his first game and was decent with the bowl, but Pakistan
may consider the option of drafting in Umar Gul and play with four seamers.
Hafeez is bowling really well so they might not need another seamer. Abdul Razzaq
and Shahid Afridi both have found reasonable form with the bat and that
can be a key factor in any game.
Pakistan's fielding has been horrid throughout the series; they would want
that to change as well. They have won two of their last five ODIs
South Africa could've and maybe should've won all four games but ended
up losing two. Smith's men won't like that one bit especially when they are
out to remove the tag of "chokers". South Africa are facing similar
problems to Pakistan, they cannot seem to field a coordinated side.
It was expected the Morne and Steyn would team up to make a furious bowling
pair but that didn't happen. Steyn went for 73 in his 10. Johan Botha
has been doing well in the series with the ball. Constant changes to their squad,
e.g. leaving out Rusty Theron have helped them get settled at all. South Africa's
batting has been good. Amla, AB, Kallis, Smith among all big guns are firing.
Their main concern is their fielding. They atleast missed three run outs in
the last game. Fielding has been abysmal, normally something you don't associate
with South Africa.
South Africa have won three of their last five ODIs
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