ICC World Cup 2019: Match 30, Pakistan vs South Africa – Statistical Preview

South Africa have pushed themselves into a hole where they need to win their remaining three games and still be hopeful about the other teams’ results. After playing six matches, the Proteas lost in four of them and their only win came against Afghanistan who is yet to win a game. They will now face Pakistan who is in no better position than the Saffers. In fact, Pakistan has played one less game than them and all wins in the remaining four matches can help them seal a final four spot.

All the key stats and numbers ahead of the key clash between Pakistan and South Africa:

0 – South Africa have never made it to the semi-final in consecutive editions of the World Cup. They qualified for semis in 1992, 1999, 2007 and 2015 but went down in the quarters during 1996, 2011 and in the Group Stage of 2007. They will be officially ruled out of the semi-final race if they lose against Pakistan.

1 – The 29-run win in 2015 is the only time Pakistan defeated South Africa in a World Cup game. The Saffers got better of Pakistan on three occasions in the CWC before this defeat.

3 – Pakistan won only three of the 19 matches they played in the ODI format in 2019. Out of those remaining 16, the Pakistan team lost in 15 while another game ended without a result. Two of those three wins came against South Africa at the start of the year during the 5-match ODI series in South Africa.

35.3 – Faf du Plessis’ batting average of 35.3 against Pakistan is the 2nd lowest for him against any team in ODIs. Faf scored 459 runs from 15 ODI innings against Pakistan with help of three half-centuries. Quinton de Kock also has similar numbers against Pakistan as he scored 419 runs from 12 innings at 34.91 with help of a century and a fifty.

37 – Imran Tahir has taken 37 wickets in the World Cup thus far; the 2nd most by any player for South Africa. Allan Donald leads the list with 38 wickets from 25 matches. Tahir’s 37 wickets came across 19 games at an average of 19.21. He is the only player with five 4-wicket hauls in the CWC history.

120.5 – Rassie van der Dussen has a batting average of 120.5 in ODIs against Pakistan. In his debut ODI series in January this year, Rassie scored 241 runs across four innings with help of three fifties.

2902 – Babar Azam needs 98 more runs to complete 3000 runs in ODI cricket. If Azam scores those 98 runs in the next two innings, he will become the fastest Pakistan player and the 2nd quickest to 3000 ODI runs.