South Africa vs Pakistan 4th T20 Predictions and Match Preview

Following their performance with the bat, the South Africans must have thought they had all but won the match, because their bowlers seemed to not even try. After losing the 3rd T20, they can now either draw the series, or lose it entirely. The return of Rassie van der Dussen was a good thing for the team, but they need to be a lot better with the ball in order to salvage something from the series. Pakistan on the other hand will be absolutely pumped and ready - but as we saw in the second match, that isn’t always effective. Before the two teams meet for one last time until quite possibly the T20 World Cup, let’s see how they fared.

South Africa

Predicted XI for 4th T20 vs Pakistan

Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), George Linde, Janneman Malan, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Pite van Biljon, Rassie van der Dussen.

South Africa team preview and form

For a team that did so well with the ball in the second match, the third was a devastating lesson for these young South Africans that bowling attacks don’t always shine like that. Batting first, Janneman Malan (55 off 40) and Aiden Markram (63 off 31) gave the team a solid base, before George Linde’s 11-ball 22 and van der Dussen’s 20-ball 34 helped the team get to a massive 203. On the defense, however, all we can say is Lizaad Williams was not only the only player to take a wicket, but also the only one to keep his economy rate less than 9.5. Eventually, the home side lost with two overs to go.

South Africa key players for 4th T20 vs Pakistan

Aiden Markram: Markram just can’t stop scoring runs this series.

Rassie van der Dussen: The imperious ODI batsman is a potent threat in T20s as well.

Tabraiz Shamsi: The one T20I bowler deserves a shout-out despite getting battered last match.

Lizaad Williams: This cool customer has been an excellent addition to the Proteas lineup so far this season.

Pakistan

Predicted XI for 4th T20 vs South Africa

Babar Azam (c), Haider Ali, Sharjeel Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Arshad Iqbal.

Pakistan team preview and form

It’s almost as though Pakistan went to South Africa to break personal chasing records. Choosing to bowl, Mohammad Nawaz was the only Pakistani bowler to take two wickets, and although three others took a wicket each, the visitors couldn’t stop the hosts from putting up a high total. On the hunt for that total, Pakistan’s two openers went ballistic. Mohammad Rizwan was excellent as usual with 73* off 47, but Babar Azam simply played one of the greatest innings T20 cricket has ever seen, scoring 122 off 59 to take his team home with 9 wickets.

Pakistan key players for 4th T20 vs South Africa

Babar Azam: Any questions?

Fakhar Zaman: Although he hardly got to bat last match, Zaman is more than capable of scoring a lot of runs. 

Mohammad Nawaz: The talented leggie has been a thorn in South Africa’s side. 

Faheem Ashraf: Underperforming with the ball this series, Faheem will be looking to undo some of the damage to his average and strike rate.

South Africa vs Pakistan 4th T20 pitch report and weather conditions

We may have underestimated the potential for batting at the SuperSport park, as both South Africa and Pakistan showed in the previous match. If a team can deal with pace and bounce, they can get runs here. Expect teams to want to field first, and first innings scores of 180+ to be difficult to chase (ridiculously good innings notwithstanding).

There’s a slight chance of rain in Centurion tomorrow, and we can only hope that there are no interruptions in play. Otherwise, conditions are pretty solid for cricket with a pleasant reading on the mercury, hygrometer, and wind vane.

Can the Proteas come back to even the series? Or will the Men in Green take the series home after perhaps yet another incredible chase? Find out if our South Africa vs Pakistan 4th T20 predictions come true on Friday!