MULTAN - South Africa's chances of clinching a one-day and Test series double against Pakistan will be decided when they play a fourth one-day international today.
MULTAN - South Africa's chances of clinching a one-day and Test series double against Pakistan will be decided when they play a fourth one-day international today.
South Africa trail 2-1 in the five-match series, having already won the Test series, and must win today to keep the series alive.
"We really want to go home with the ODI series as well," coach Mickey Arthur said yesterday. "It's a final for us, a do or die game.
"We've set our team big goals on this trip and we've ticked the box in terms of the Test [matches]."
South Africa have lost successive matches to a rejuvenated Pakistan. The visitors struggled to form strong partnerships in the middle overs of the past two games. Experienced batsman Jacques Kallis, who scored 421 runs in two Tests, has made only 21 runs in the series so far.
"Hats off to Pakistan for bowling well in the middle overs and that's where they have won the games," Arthur said. "Jacques is a fantastic player, we are backing him to come out and score tomorrow."
South Africa have struggled to cope with Pakistan spinners on slow wickets at Lahore and Faisalabad. Captain Graeme Smith is the top scorer for them in the past two matches - but his dogged 65 off 96 balls in the second game came only after three dropped chances.
"It's up to us to counter the pitches," Arthur said. "They [Pakistan] realised their strengths were in the spin department and it was one area they felt they could take advantage.
"They've prepared wickets according to that."
The Pakistan Cricket Board has shifted Monday's fifth and final one-day international from Karachi to Lahore after South Africa expressed security concerns following a suicide bombing that killed at least 139 people in the port city last Thursday.
"It has not distracted the players at all. Pakistan played better than we have in the last two games," Arthur said. "That [security's] been dealt with really well by the management.
Players and myself are really satisfied that the correct procedures were followed."
Pakistan have injury worries over his two key bowlers: paceman Mohammad Asif (elbow) and left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman (groin).
"We are not overconfident," Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said. "All the players are backing each other and I hope we can beat them."
Asif and Rehman were due to have late fitness tests before today's match, Malik said. - Sapa-AP
Have to win today to stay alive in Pakistan series
MULTAN - South Africa's chances of clinching a one-day and Test series double against Pakistan will be decided when they play a fourth one-day international today.
MULTAN - South Africa's chances of clinching a one-day and Test series double against Pakistan will be decided when they play a fourth one-day international today.
South Africa trail 2-1 in the five-match series, having already won the Test series, and must win today to keep the series alive.
"We really want to go home with the ODI series as well," coach Mickey Arthur said yesterday. "It's a final for us, a do or die game.
"We've set our team big goals on this trip and we've ticked the box in terms of the Test [matches]."
South Africa have lost successive matches to a rejuvenated Pakistan. The visitors struggled to form strong partnerships in the middle overs of the past two games. Experienced batsman Jacques Kallis, who scored 421 runs in two Tests, has made only 21 runs in the series so far.
"Hats off to Pakistan for bowling well in the middle overs and that's where they have won the games," Arthur said. "Jacques is a fantastic player, we are backing him to come out and score tomorrow."
South Africa have struggled to cope with Pakistan spinners on slow wickets at Lahore and Faisalabad. Captain Graeme Smith is the top scorer for them in the past two matches - but his dogged 65 off 96 balls in the second game came only after three dropped chances.
"It's up to us to counter the pitches," Arthur said. "They [Pakistan] realised their strengths were in the spin department and it was one area they felt they could take advantage.
"They've prepared wickets according to that."
The Pakistan Cricket Board has shifted Monday's fifth and final one-day international from Karachi to Lahore after South Africa expressed security concerns following a suicide bombing that killed at least 139 people in the port city last Thursday.
"It has not distracted the players at all. Pakistan played better than we have in the last two games," Arthur said. "That [security's] been dealt with really well by the management.
Players and myself are really satisfied that the correct procedures were followed."
Pakistan have injury worries over his two key bowlers: paceman Mohammad Asif (elbow) and left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman (groin).
"We are not overconfident," Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said. "All the players are backing each other and I hope we can beat them."
Asif and Rehman were due to have late fitness tests before today's match, Malik said. - Sapa-AP
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