Pakistan and South Africa gear up for thrilling clash in ICC World Cup 2023

Chennai: Pakistan is facing a must-win situation in the ICC World Cup 2023 as they take on South Africa today. After a promising start with back-to-back victories, Pakistan has faced a string of losses, including a significant defeat to Afghanistan. If they don’t secure a win in their upcoming matches, they risk being eliminated from the tournament.

In contrast, South Africa has been in stellar form, with impressive victories against Sri Lanka, Australia, England, and Bangladesh. Their only loss in the tournament came against the Netherlands when they batted second.

Head-to-Head Records:

Pakistan and South Africa have a history of 82 ODIs against each other, with South Africa leading with 51 wins, Pakistan securing 30 victories, and one match ending without a result. In their last decisive encounter in April 2021, Pakistan emerged victorious by 28 runs.

World Cup Encounters:

In World Cup matches, Pakistan and South Africa have met five times before today’s game. Pakistan has won three times, and South Africa twice. Notably, Pakistan won the last two World Cup encounters in 2019 and 2015, while South Africa won in 1992, 1996, and 1999.

Pitch Report:

The MA Chidambaram (Chepauk) pitch in Chennai tends to favor batsmen once they adapt to the pace and bounce. However, spinners can play a crucial role as the match progresses. The pitch supports fast bowlers early in the game, with spinners coming into play later, making batting challenging.

Also Read: ICC Men’s ODI World Cup: Srilanka Wins By 8 Wickets Against England

Weather:

Chennai’s weather forecast indicates a 46% chance of morning rain, but it is unlikely to disrupt the match, with minimal rain expected during game time. The temperature is predicted to reach 31 degrees Celsius, with humidity potentially rising to 88%.

Prediction:

According to Google’s win probability, South Africa has a 62% chance of winning this match. CricTracker suggests that the team bowling first is likely to win, emphasizing the importance of the toss. MyKhel leans in favor of South Africa. However, the article suggests that if Pakistan bats first and delivers a strong bowling performance, South Africa may face a challenging chase.