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South Africa and Pakistan will face off in the first Test of their two-match series at the SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium, Centurion, starting Thursday, December 26. Both teams bring considerable momentum to this red-ball encounter, promising an intense and competitive contest.
South African dominance in Test cricket
South Africa will enter the series in great form, having been dismantled recently Sri Lanka in the two-match Test series, winning 2-0. This comprehensive performance not only reinforced their dominance but also cemented their position at the top ICC World Test Championship (WTC) order. Playing in home conditions, South Africa will look to use their familiarity with the pace and bounce of Centurion’s surface to maintain their winning streak.
Pakistan’s recent success in all formats
Pakistan, meanwhile, arrive with a lot of confidence after a clean 3-0 win in the ODI series that preceded this Test battle. In Test cricket, they came away with a hard-fought 2-1 series win England at home, showing his ability to perform under pressure. Although the conditions in South Africa will be vastly different, Pakistan’s combination of experienced players and emerging talent will be crucial in adapting to the challenges of a formidable South African bowling attack.
SA vs PAK, 1st Test:
- Date and time: 26 Dec: 08:00 GMT / 10:00 Local / 13:30 IST
- Place of action: SuperSport Park, Centurion
Report on SuperSport Park:
The pitch at SuperSport Park in Centurion is known for being very conducive to batting. It offers good pace and bounce, allowing batsmen to play aggressively once they settle down. Although bowlers may notice some shifts early on, the conditions generally become easier to score as the match progresses. Spinners may struggle for significant spin, but variations can still be effective. Historically, the teams batting first had a slight advantage, which is why the toss was decisive.
SA vs PAK Dream11 Predictions:
- Gatekeepers: Mohammad Rizwan, Kyle Verreynne
- Butters: Temba Bavuma, Babar Azam, Saim Ayub
- Versatile: Salman Agha, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen
- Bowlers: Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Naseem Shah
SA vs PAK Dream11 Prediction Captain and Vice-Captain:
- Choice 1: Marco Jansen (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc)
- Choice 2: Babar Azam (c), Kagiso Rabada (vc)
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SA vs PAK Dream11 Backup Predictions:
Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique
SA vs PAK Dream11 Team for today’s match (December 26, 08:00 GMT):
Determine:
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c)David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.
Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
