This week, the Pakistan Women’s cricket team is in South Africa for a quickfire ODI series. The three matches take place over seven days, and this tour consists entirely of white-ball cricket.
The first match in the series was be played at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, where the Proteas won by 27 runs in a rain-affected contest. The second match will be at Centurion Park in Centurion on Wednesday, while the third will be at Kingsmead in Durban next Sunday.
Here is a look ahead at the contest.
South Africa vs Pakistan Venue: Centurion Park, Centurion
South Africa vs Pakistan Date: Wednesday, February 25
South Africa vs Pakistan Odds:
History
South Africa claimed victory in the T20 series that preceded these ODIs.
The Proteas won the first two matches, with the first coming down to a thrilling final ball six from Kayla Reyneke to snatch victory, and the second coming down to the final balls of the Pakistani chase, with the tourists falling five runs short of victory. Pakistan rallied in the third T20I to win by 53 runs and bowl the Proteas out for just 91.
These results set up this ODI series nicely, and the Proteas came out firing in the first match. Sune Luus goes under the radar in a batting lineup featuring the outstanding opening pair of Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, but Luus was the star of the show on Saturday.
She clubbed an unbeaten 93 from 76 balls, with an innings that included nine boundaries. Her stand with Sinalo Jafte, who scored 57 from 38 balls, added 90 runs to the South African total after the last wicket fell. Important runs that the Proteas required to build a solid defense.
Pakistan’s reply was spirited after an early major wobble. They lost both openers inside four overs, and were 2-for-5 when No. 4 bat Ayesha Zafar entered the fray. Zafar and No. 3 Sidra Amin put on 126 runs before Amin went to all-rounder Luus for 68. Zafar battled to 81, but Aliya Riaz was the only other player to score more than 10 as a middle-order collapse sealed the tourists’ fate.
South Africa
A win here seals the ODI series and gives South Africa a chance to end this tour losing just one match to Pakistan. They are heavy favorites, with the Proteas team getting contributions from all over their lineup over the white-ball games.
Pakistan
Pakistan has struggled mightily in this form of the game of late. They have lost six ODI matches in a row and will be desperate for a win in one of the remaining two games just to build some confidence back into the side.
Best Bets
Seamers tend to have fun in Centurian. It is a wicket that is spicy, and the ball will carry, especially early. The balance lies in the early volatility of the wicket versus the ability to score freely, as altitude does help the ball travel. This makes the toss decision particularly fascinating. The team winning the toss will likely opt to bowl.
As a prop bet, I like Sidra Amin to be the best batter for the tourists. She scored 68 in the first innings and has 14 half-centuries and six centuries in just 81 matches.
