South Africa vs Pakistan - 4th T20I - Match Preview

Carrying on their juggernaut, Pakistan annihilated South Africa in the 3rd T20I, winning the game by 9 wickets. Babar Azam scored a breathtaking century while Mohammad Rizwan played a whirlwind knock of 73 as the visitors made mockery of the 204 run target.

Advertisment

Pakistan now can’t lose the series but they wouldn’t want to let go this opportunity to win the ODI and T20I series in South Africa on the same tour. At the moment, their top order looks really strong with Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman in top form. Mohammad Hafeez is also very experienced in this format.

However, the middle order looks slightly vulnerable. This is where the hosts can seize their opportunity. They’ll hope that if they can get the top order out for not much, they can restrict Pakistan for a manageable score. Their batting is doing well with Markram, Klaasen, Malan and Dussen in fine form. The visitors definitely look a better balanced team but they are not invincible and have certain areas of concern which the Proteas can exploit.

Pitch Report - The surfaces in the series have been brilliant for batting and we don’t think it will change much for the final game.

Advertisment

Team News

South Africa

Despite losing the last game, the hosts shouldn't alter their team combination. Their bowling is a concern but they don’t seem to have decent replacements available. 

Advertisment

X-Factor

Aiden Markram - Markram has scored three consecutive half-centuries in the series thus there is no reason he can’t make it four in four.

Probable XI 

Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen(w/c), Pite van Biljon, George Linde, Andile Phehlukwayo, Sisanda Magala, Beuran Hendricks, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi

Team News 

Pakistan

The visitors rested Usman Qadir from the match and we think they’ll bring him back for the final. Rest they should stick to the same combination.

X-Factor

Babar Azam

The Pakistan skipper is in scintillating form and stroked a brutal hundred in the last game. He’d back himself to continue his top run on a placid Wanderers surface

Probable XI

Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Haider Ali, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz/Usman Qadir, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf