After losing five-match One Day International (ODI) series following the defeat on Friday, Pakistan will take on South Africa in the last match to beplayed at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah on Monday.
Where to Watch Live:
The 5th ODI will begin at 04:30 pm IST on Monday and it will be telecast live on Ten Cricket and Ten HD in India, and on PTV Sports in Pakistan.
Overview:
It is a dead rubber after South Africa won the previous match by 28 runs, clinching the series with three wins. They will be looking forward to win the last match and take the momentum to two Twenty20 matches starting on Wednesday.
Pakistan must be disappointed with their performance in the series but the best thing they can do is look forward to the matches coming up, including T20 matches. They will be keen to at least end the series on a winning note.
Previous Meetings:
South Africa have 45-21 win-loss and one no result record against Pakistan in 67 ODIs played so far.
Team News:
With the series wrapped up after the win on Friday, South Africa may rest some of their senior players and give chance to youngsters. Dale Steyn, who took career-best five for 25 at an economy of 2.5 in the previous match, is likely to be rested keeping in mind important series against India in the offing.
Pakistan, who are playing for pride, may field the same squad that played in the previous game.
Preview:
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and Sohaib Maqsood scored half centuries each in the previous match, and openers - Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez - gave a good start but middle order collapse cost them the match. They managed to score only 238 in reply to South Africa's 266, which will worry them as they enter the fifth ODI. Bowlers too need to step up as they took only only five wickets in the previous match, while their counterparts took 10 wickets.
Q de Kock's calculated century and Hashim Amla's 46 helped the Proteas put up a decent total on the board in the previous match. Like Pakistan, their weakness is middle order batting collapse. They need the contrinution of the middle order to put up a big score.
Dale Steyn proved once again that he can win matches with his exploits. His career-best five for 25 helped the team win the previous match. Other bowlers like Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel and Ryan McLaren should step up and fill the vacuum in case Steyn is rested on Monday.
Prediction:
South Africa are the favourites to win.
Squads:
Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain) Ahmed Shehzad, Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Sohaib Maqsood, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed
South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), Hashim Amla, Q de Kock, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Vernon Philander, Graeme Smith, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
