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Cape Town - The Proteas are looking to top off South Africa's 500th ODI with a win against Pakistan in the second ODI at St George’s Park on Wednesday.
South Africa need a win to level the series, and to keep their unbeaten home series record against Pakistan intact.
Proteas captain, AB de Villiers, says the match will be a good indication of the progress they have made, especially playing under the pressure a must-win match adds.
"We are under a bit of pressure," De Villiers admitted. "I don't think Pakistan have won a series here so there is a lot to play for as a team. We didn't play well in the previous game and from a general point of view we would like to play a good game of cricket tomorrow.
"It will mean everything to us," De Villiers said of winning the series. "It’s never easy to come from behind, we are one-nil down in a three-match series so the pressure is definitely on us. If we can get through this, it will mean a lot to us as a team, especially looking ahead to 2014 and the World Cup in 2015."
Typical conditions at St George’s are normally slow, low and conducive to spin, conditions the Proteas are confident of playing under since the successful tour of the UAE.
"We have just come from the UAE where the wickets are low and slow," De Villiers said. "We are used to that now and we had a good ODI series there winning 4-1. I think it will be similar tomorrow, hopefully not too much advantage will be taken from the toss and it plays evenly throughout the 100 overs."
Proteas coach, Russell Domingo, and assistant, Adrian Birrell, return to their "home ground" and will no doubt add valuable input into the conditions and the wind, which is an unpredictable factor. There is a 30 percent chance of rain on Wendesday morning. However, locals are expecting the weather to clear for the 10:00 start.
South Africa need a win to level the series, and to keep their unbeaten home series record against Pakistan intact.
Proteas captain, AB de Villiers, says the match will be a good indication of the progress they have made, especially playing under the pressure a must-win match adds.
"We are under a bit of pressure," De Villiers admitted. "I don't think Pakistan have won a series here so there is a lot to play for as a team. We didn't play well in the previous game and from a general point of view we would like to play a good game of cricket tomorrow.
"It will mean everything to us," De Villiers said of winning the series. "It’s never easy to come from behind, we are one-nil down in a three-match series so the pressure is definitely on us. If we can get through this, it will mean a lot to us as a team, especially looking ahead to 2014 and the World Cup in 2015."
Typical conditions at St George’s are normally slow, low and conducive to spin, conditions the Proteas are confident of playing under since the successful tour of the UAE.
"We have just come from the UAE where the wickets are low and slow," De Villiers said. "We are used to that now and we had a good ODI series there winning 4-1. I think it will be similar tomorrow, hopefully not too much advantage will be taken from the toss and it plays evenly throughout the 100 overs."
Proteas coach, Russell Domingo, and assistant, Adrian Birrell, return to their "home ground" and will no doubt add valuable input into the conditions and the wind, which is an unpredictable factor. There is a 30 percent chance of rain on Wendesday morning. However, locals are expecting the weather to clear for the 10:00 start.
