The much-anticipated third ODI between Pakistan and South Africa resumed after a rain delay at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Following the interruption, the match was reduced to 47 overs per side, adding a new layer of excitement and strategy to the encounter.
Rain Disrupts Play
Initially, South Africa, led by captain Temba Bavuma, won the toss and elected to bowl first in this Pink ODI, dedicated to raising awareness for breast cancer. Unfortunately, the rain arrived shortly after Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafique was dismissed for a duck, marking his third consecutive failure in the series. Pakistan’s top-order woes continued as they struggled to build momentum.
After Shafique’s early exit, Babar Azam joined opener Saim Ayub at the crease. The duo cautiously moved the score to 10 runs before the rain halted play for approximately 45 minutes. The earlier weather had already delayed the toss that day, and an unexpected downpour required the ground staff to cover the pitch again, creating uncertainty about whether the match could continue.
Revised Match Conditions
With the rain subsiding, the match referee made the decision to revise the playing conditions, allowing play to resume with the new 47-over format. The powerplays were also adjusted: the first powerplay will consist of 10 overs, the second 28 overs, and the final powerplay will be 9 overs. These changes significantly impact both teams’ strategies as they adapt to the altered format.
Pakistan’s Outlook
Despite having already secured the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead, Pakistan was eager to clinch a victory in the final ODI before shifting their focus to the upcoming two-match Test series, starting on December 26. The team made several changes to their lineup, bringing in Mohammad Hasnain, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Tayyab Tahir, while pacer Haris Rauf and spinner Abrar Ahmed were left out.
In the previous match, Pakistan showcased their strength, defeating South Africa by 81 runs.By batting first, they established a challenging target of 330 runs. Kamran Ghulam was instrumental in that victory, scoring a blistering 63 off just 32 balls, while Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan contributed valuable runs with scores of 73 and 51, respectively. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi, who took 4 wickets for 48 runs, were crucial in restricting South Africa to 248 runs.
Conclusion
As the teams prepare to resume play, fans are excited to see if Pakistan can overcome their early challenges and finish the series on a high note. The weather may have delayed the action, but it has only heightened the anticipation for what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to this ODI series. Keep following for more updates as the match progresses!