South Africa’s top-order is a cause for concern
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India played superbly against Pakistan and continued to keep their 100 percent record against them in the World cup intact.
I have said before, that India had the better of Pakistan in the last 10 years and if Pakistan continue to handle pressure in this manner against India then it will be hard for Pakistan to change that. India are getting past Pakistan in the mind and that too by a long, long way.
The biggest problem for Pakistan has been their batting against India. We keep talking about how good the Pakistan bowling is but if they bat like this and not post totals then it will be hard for their bowlers to win matches. Also Hafeez’s captaincy was very ordinary and Dhoni beat him in that convincingly.
Pakistan batting didn’t seem to have any control, one cannot just keep slogging bowlers in world cricket and Imran Nazir and Shahid Afridi paid penalty for that. If as a batsman you know one way to play and that’s block and slog, then more often than not you will find yourself in trouble and that’s what happening to Pakistan.
Other then Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal no one seemed to be in control with their thought process and that shows in their batting. The biggest difference between two sides was, that India remained calm and composed and Pakistan panicked.
The body language of the Indians was superb, they were up and ready for it and the diving stop of Yuvraj set the tone for them in the first over. The fielding was top class and it was an example of a team who was desperate to win.
India went with the seven batsmen option against Pakistan something which Dhoni wanted at the start of the tournament and I am sure it will be the same against South Africa. South Africa have a lot to worry before the start of the game. They should thank India for keeping them alive in the competition but will have to play very well to qualify for the last four.
Their batting has been a worry as they have played too many bowlers and they need to rethink that. The form of Levi at the top has been disappointing and they will need a change there. They will need their top order to fire if they have to stay in the hunt.
For India it will be a test. The South Africans will be a lot more clinical and disciplined than Pakistan and their fast bowlers have been in good form. For the South Africans they are once again under pressure in the World Cup. Will their new captain AB DeVilliers change it this time?
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