Fourth ODI: A must win game for Pakistan

ABU DHABI: Pakistan will take on South Africa in a must win match at Abu Dhabi, as the fourth ODI is the last chance for the green shirts to make come back in the series otherwise there will be no decider, ARY News reported on Thursday.

Batting remains the main concern for Pakistan, who needs more proficient performance from their batsmen including Mohammad Hafeez, Uamr Akmal and Umar Ameen to keep the series alive as well as to secure their position in the team.

Shahid Afridi being the more experienced in the team with 365 ODIs overall and also having more ODIs appearances i.e., 19 than anyone else in Abu Dhabi, he needs to play his rule for the victory with his sensible batting.

Meanwhile, bowling performance has been satisfactory for Pakistan, Mohammad Irfan, a consistent wicket taker can still caused problems and Pakistan will need him and the spinners to be at their best to level the series.

South Africa with the satisfactory performance with the bat on the track of Abu Dhabi and with the fourth fixture being played on the same placid surface in Abu Dhabi, they will be hoping that one of its batsmen that scored 50 in the third ODI will score a century in the fourth match.

With Graeme Smith out of the series, Quinton de Kock will get another opportunity to open and will probably keep wicket as well.

Furthermore, Faf du Plessis seemed to prefer batting at No.3, so he should stay there with JP Duminy at No.4.

Dale Steyn was clutching his hamstring and seemed groin at various points in the third match at Abu Dhabi would be replaced by either Wayne Parnell or Vernon Philander.

South Africa won the first match, Pakistan got success in the second while South Africa ruled in the third.

Keeping in view the history of March 2010 when two sides last met each other, it tells us that now it’s Pakistan’s turn again in the fourth, and they need a victory in Abu Dhabi to stay alive in the series.