In total 707 runs were scored in 99 overs at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday, with bats from both sides breathing fire in the ODI tri-series match between hosts Pakistan and South Africa.
Led by Heinrich Klaasen (87), Matthew Breetzke (83) and captain Temba Bavuma (82), the South African team posted a formidable total of 352 for 5. But the home side successfully chased down the big target, powered by brilliant centuries from Salman Ali Agha (134) and captain Mohammad Rizwan (122 not out) with an over to spare.
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The six-wicket win took Pakistan to the final of the tri-series against New Zealand at the same venue on Friday, and the matches played so far in this tournament have indicated that the ICC Champions Trophy is going to be full of runs.
The two venues used for the tri-series — Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and the National Stadium in Karachi — will also host the upcoming Champions Trophy, with the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium as the third venue.
While India play their matches in Dubai as part of a hybrid arrangement, the big-hitting stars among the two-time ODI World Cup winners will miss playing on the flat tracks in Pakistan.
Each of the three league games in the tri-series — two in Lahore and one in Karachi — have seen the team batting first going past the 300-run mark, while two of those were successfully chased.
Batting first in Lahore, New Zealand made 330 for 6 against Pakistan, while South Africa scored 304 for 6 in the next match, which the Kiwis chased down successfully. And if the 7.14 runs per over in Karachi on Wednesday are anything to go by, then the final is likely to witness another run-fest.
“Batters will certainly take a lot of heart from the performances they put in the past two games, and as a bowling unit, we are working to understand how to create more pressure and ultimately force batters to take risks,” said SA coach Rob Walter, after Pakistan completed their highest successful ODI chase to beat the Proteas on Wednesday.
He added that more totals in excess of 350 are on the cards if similar batting conditions and the flat decks become the norm at the three Champions Trophy venues, while bowlers will have to think out of the box to get wickets.
“As I said, both teams struggled to take wickets; it wasn’t just unique to us. So the method (of taking wickets) moving forward is going to be important to us,” said the coach.
“If the pitches are the same moving forward, then you can expect to see more scores of 350.”
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