Pakistan vs South Africa Prediction: Pakistan are in dire need of a win

Pakistan and South Africa are going head to head in the 26th game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India on 27th October. Pakistan has lost their way after losing to India, losing three games on trot. Who will win this game?

Pakistan had a promising start to the tournament, securing wins against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. However, they faced setbacks with successive losses to India, Australia, and Afghanistan, with the third loss being particularly disappointing. This sequence of defeats has put them in a precarious position, and another loss here could seriously jeopardize their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

Pakistan boasts a strong batting lineup and a wealth of bowling resources, but their performance has been inconsistent. Captain Babar Azam acknowledged this issue, stating, "We are not able to click in all departments at the same time. When we do well in bowling, we don't do well in batting. When we do well in batting, we don't do as well in fielding."

In this tournament, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan has been Pakistan's leading run-scorer, amassing 302 runs in five innings with an impressive average of over 75. Opener Abdullah Shafique follows Rizwan in the run-scoring chart and enters this fixture on the back of consecutive half-centuries against Australia and Afghanistan, including a century against Sri Lanka earlier in the competition.

The fast bowling trio of Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, and Haris Rauf has collectively taken 26 wickets in the tournament. Afridi leads the pack with 10 wickets in five matches, although it's worth noting that his form dipped after a remarkable five-wicket haul against Australia. His consistency will be a concern for Pakistan as they approach this crucial fixture.

Imam ul Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (C), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz/Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Usama Mir, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf

South Africa rebounded from their loss to the Netherlands with impressive wins over England and Bangladesh. They have emerged as the most formidable batting team in the 2023 Cricket World Cup held in India, consistently posting the highest scores, including the only total of over 400 runs.

A victory in this upcoming match would propel the Proteas to the summit of the 10-team tournament standings and bring them one step closer to securing a spot in the semi-finals. With each passing round in the round-robin stage, the pressure is bound to intensify.

Quinton de Kock, South Africa's wicketkeeper-batsman, leads the run-scoring charts in the tournament. He has already amassed an impressive 407 runs in five innings, featuring three centuries. Notably, the Proteas have contributed six of the 19 centuries seen in the Cricket World Cup this year, with the in-form trio of Heinrich Klaasen, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram each notching one.

South Africa also boasts three bowlers who have each taken 10 wickets in the tournament so far. The all-rounder Gerald Coetzee has maintained an average of more than two wickets per match, while the fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen have been consistently productive. The inclusion of the injured Lungi Ngidi in the playing XI for this crucial match remains uncertain.

Quinton de Kock (WK), Temba Bavuma (C), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi

In the previous 10 ODIs held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai, there is a balanced record with five wins for the team batting first and five for the team batting second.

During the initial four matches in Chennai in this World Cup, the captain winning the toss opted to field first in two instances, one of which resulted in a defeat. Pakistan, in their recent match against Afghanistan, chose to bat first after winning the toss and subsequently lost. Therefore, they might contemplate a different decision should they win the toss this time. South Africa has not participated in an ODI at this venue since 2015.

This match will be the fifth and final game in Chennai during this World Cup, and there is curiosity regarding whether a fresh pitch will be utilized. The stadium has witnessed first-innings totals of 199, 245, 288, and 282 so far, with only two teams getting bowled out in eight innings.

Chepauk generally doesn't yield high-scoring encounters, making it conducive for deploying spin bowlers. Afghanistan, in their recent victory over Pakistan at this venue, bowled 38 overs of spin.

Regarding the weather, there are predictions of some rain in Chennai on Thursday and Friday, but it is unlikely to significantly affect the duration of the match, if at all.

Pakistan is facing a challenge after three consecutive losses, while South Africa has built momentum and currently holds the second position on the points table. Given their strong batting lineup and robust bowling unit, the Proteas appear to be the favorites to win this match.