South Africa vs Pakistan 3rd ODI Predictions & Tips - Pakistan to clinch series

With the series level at 1-1, the 3rd ODI will decide the winner of the series. South Africa have lost a number of key players to IPL duty, so I’m tipping Pakistan to win and clinch the series.

South Africa have won four of their last seven ODIs against Pakistan.

The current series is level at 1-1 after South Africa won the 2nd ODI at the Wanderers by 17 runs.

South Africa leveled the three-match ODI series at 1-1 in the 2nd ODI at the Wanderers. 

Batting first on a flat pitch Temba Bavuma top scored with 92 runs. There other contributions from Quinton de Kock (80), Rassie van der Dussen (60) and David Miller (50) as the hosts reached a total of 341 in their 50 overs.

Anrich Nortje was the pick of the Proteas bowlers, taking 3-63 in his 10 overs as Pakistan reached 324 in their 50 overs.

Van der Dussen has been magnificent with the bat in this series with scores of 123* and 60 runs. He now averages over 80.90 in 23 ODI matches. 

South Africa will be severely weakened in the 3rd ODI with Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, David Miller and Lungi Ngidi all leaving for the Indian Premier League.

That should see the likes of Janneman Malan, Lutho Sipamla and Wiaan Mulder all get a run.

Going into the 2nd ODI at the Wanderers, Pakistan led the series 1-0 but suffered a 17-run defeat to level the series at 1-1.

Haris Rauf bowled superbly to take 3-54 with the other bowlers all struggling. South Africa scored a mammoth 341 which made the chase very tough.

Babar Azam batted well for 31 runs but threw his wicket away at a crucial time. Pakistan were never really in the chase as wickets continued to fall with Azam’s 31 turning out to be the second highest score of the innings.

Just as Pakistan looked dead and buried at 205-7, Fakhar Zaman started smashing the ball to all corners of the ground. He produced one of the greatest ODI innings’ ever seen as he took the visitors to the brink of victory.

Zaman was eventually run out for 193 runs, the highest ever ODI score while batting second.

Pakistan resisted making changes in the 2nd ODI but with the middle order struggling for runs, they may opt for Haider Ali in the series decider.