Sunday’s MTN one-day international between South Africa and Pakistan is of extreme importance to both teams after Friday’s match in Port Elizabeth was abandoned because of rain.
With the World Cup just weeks away, Pakistan want to build on the confidence boost they received when they demolished South Africa by 141 runs in Durban on Wednesday, while South Africa are eager to show that their defeat was just a blip in their run-up to the World Cup.
”We wanted to bounce back and show our mental strength,” said Andrew Hall, who took four wickets for 35 runs on Friday night. ”We were very disappointed, but there is nothing you can do about rain.
It’s out of our control.”
Hall, brought into the team to replace Andre Nel, who has a foot injury, was delighted with his performance on Friday.
”It’s always nice to come into the side and do the job they ask you to do,” he said. As well as taking four wickets, Hall was the most economical bowler, and was particularly effective in the final overs. In his last over, bowled in difficult conditions in the rain, he conceded just four runs.
”I’ve always been one of the guys to do the death bowling,” Hall explained. ”That’s what I train to do, and that’s what I enjoy doing. We haven’t bowled well at the death recently, but we were much better last night, except for the very last over when the ball was like a bar of soap.”
Despite his heroics, Hall may be left out of the team for Sunday’s match. Spinner Robin Peterson is likely to play, and it will probably be a choice of Hall or swing-bowler Charl Langeveldt.
Hall said the Proteas are looking forward to playing at Newlands, and are undeterred by the fact that they have only a day between matches.
”We’re quite used to playing back-to-back matches,” he said. ”This won’t worry us, and we always like playing at Newlands. It’s a special place for us, and we have done some special things there. We will be building on that. We want to do well tomorrow and get into the lead in the series.”
Pakistan could be without all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who has been banned for four one-day internationals following an incident that took place after Afridi was dismissed during the first one-day international on February 4, where he pushed his bat in an aggressive manner towards a spectator as he was leaving the field.
If an appeal is lodged, then Afridi may continue to play until the verdict of that appeal is given.
The weather forecast for Sunday predicts a 60% chance of early-morning showers, but says the rest of the day should be partly cloudy with a fresh south-westerly wind. — Sapa