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MA Chidambaram Stadium (Source: Twitter)
In the 26th match of the ODI World Cup 2023 which is scheduled for October 27 at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium, South Africa (RSA) is prepared to face Pakistan (PAK). South Africa comes into the game riding high on a recent victory against Bangladesh, while Pakistan finds itself in a challenging predicament with three consecutive losses.
Pakistan initiated the tournament promisingly, securing wins against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka. However, their performance took a downturn with subsequent losses to India, Australia, and Afghanistan, with the defeat to Afghanistan dealing a significant blow. Another loss in the upcoming match could seriously jeopardize their chances of advancing to the semi-finals.
In contrast, South Africa made an impressive recovery after their initial loss to the Netherlands, notching up victories against England and Bangladesh. They have established themselves as one of the most prolific batting teams in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, recording the three highest scores in the tournament, including the sole total exceeding 400.
The weather in Chennai will be bright and sunny, with very little chance of precipitation. The spectators and fans can anticipate the game to take place without any disruptions. The temperature at the venue is expected to hover around 31 degrees Celsius, with humidity levels to be around 71% and the wind blowing at a speed of 16 kmph.
ODI World Cup 2023: South Africa vs Pakistan Pitch Report
The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai which is also known as Chepauk Stadium is renowned for being a spin-friendly venue where spin bowlers receive substantial assistance as the game unfolds. While the pitch initially offers good carry and bounce, making it favourable for seam bowlers, the balance shifts significantly in favour of spinners as the match progresses.
Consequently, batting becomes a challenging endeavour at this location as the pitch deteriorates in the later stages. Given these conditions, it's highly likely that a captain winning the toss would choose to bat first, aiming to set a formidable total on the scoreboard.