Pakistan will look to resurrect their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign when they take on South Africa in match number 26 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. After starting well, Babar Azam’s Pakistan have faltered since, losing against India, Australia, and Afghanistan. Babar’s men need to win their remaining games to stand a chance of qualification. Meanwhile, South Africa have been flying high, breaking several records one after the other. One expects a stern contest with plenty of fire on offer.
In terms of the ODI head-to-head records, out of 82 meetings, SA have locked in 51 wins to Pakistan’s 30 (NR: 1). In the ICC ODI World Cup history, in five meetings, Pakistan have amassed two wins to South Africa’s three. Notably, Pakistan have beaten SA in both the 2019 and 2015 ODI World Cups.
SA are placed second in the ongoing World Cup with eight points, whereas Pakistan are 5th with a tally of four points. An in-form Quinton de Kock remains the main focus for SA alongside Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram. Pakistan need players to step up across departments.
Here, we present the records that can be broken.
3000 powerplay runs for De Kock
Quinton de Kock has been a revelation in the 2023 ODI World Cup, having hammered three centuries already, including a 178-run knock versus Bangladesh. De Kock, who goes hard in the first 10 overs, is set to clock a unique milestone in the ODI format. As per ESPNcricinfo, De Kock owns 2982 runs in the power play overs and is 18 shy of the 3000-run mark. He can become the third batter in ODI cricket to hammer 3000-plus runs in the first 10 overs after Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. Notably, the power play change of overs 1-10 came into effect in 2005.
3rd SA batter with this milestone in ODI World Cups
De Kock is known for his boundary-hitting and placements. He is an aggressor and sets the tempo. De Kock owns 94 fours in ODI World Cups and is six shy of 100. He can become the 3rd South African batter after AB de Villiers and Herschelle Gibbs to slam 100-plus fours in the tournament. Recently, De Kock surpassed 750 fours in ODIs.
8000 List A runs for De Kock
De Kock owns 6583 runs in ODIs at 46.03. And overall, in the 50-over format, the southpaw has hammered 7969 runs. He is 31 shy of the 8000-run mark in List A cricket. Notably, he can also get to 900 fours in the format (890), besides 150 sixes as well (145).
De Kock can equal ABD with this giant record
De Kock has taken the 2023 World Cup by storm, and as mentioned above, he owns three tons already. If De Kock is in his element and gets another hundred, he will become the joint-top centurion for SA in the ODI World Cups. De Villiers owns four centuries in the global event. Meanwhile, he can also equal Gibbs in terms of ODI tons for SA (21).
Mohammad Rizwan and Aidan Markram can get to 2000 ODI runs
Mohammad Rizwan will aim for a strong score against the Proteas. He is Pakistan’s best bet in the middle order. Rizwan owns 1995 runs in ODIs and is 5 short of the 2000-run mark. Rizwan averages 39.90 in ODIs.
Another player who is targeting the 2000-run record in ODI cricket is South Africa’s Aiden Markram. Notably, Markram has enjoyed solid form in the ongoing 2023 World Cup and can be a big-match player. Markram needs 70 runs to get to the milestone. He owns 1930 runs at an average of 37.11.
Hasan Ali one shy of 100 ODI scalps
Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali is one shy of 100 ODI scalps. Hasan owns 99 ODI wickets to date at 30.32. He has played 65 ODIs. Overall, he owns 151 scalps in the 50-over format at 28.31.
Shaheen set to appear in his 50th ODI
Pakistan left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi remains a focal point. He has a solid record in the ICC Cricket World Cup and will lead Pakistan’s bowling unit. Shaheen is set to make his 50th ODI appearance. In 49 matches, the left-arm pacer has managed 96 scalps at 23.54. He is also four shy of 100 ODI scalps.
Babar can become the 3rd-highest WC scorer for PAK
Pakistan will look up to skipper Babar Azam for some solidity with the bat. In the previous match, Babar scored a defiant fifty (74). Babar, who has scored 631 runs at the World Cup, can become the third-highest scorer for his side by surpassing Inzamam-ul-Haq (717). Babar can also become just the fifth Pakistani player to smash 700-plus World Cup runs.
50th score of 50-plus for Babar
Babar has amassed 5566 runs in ODI cricket at a whopping 56.79. He has slammed 30 fifties and 19 centuries to date. If Babar gets to another 50-plus score, it will be his 50th for Pakistan.
Babar can equal Misbah’s World Cup record
Babar has smashed six fifty-plus scores in ODI World Cups, including one century and five fifties. He needs one such score to equal Misbah-ul-Haq (7) and become the joint-second-highest in terms of 50-plus scores for the Men in Green. Only Javed Miandad (9) owns more such scores.
3000 ODI runs in Asia for Babar
Babar has accumulated 2913 runs on Asian soil in ODIs. He averages 59.44 with the help of 12 tons and 17 fifties. Babar is 87 shy of 3000 runs in Asia.