The penultimate day of the Super Eights stage of the ICC World T20 will see Pakistan take on South Africa at Gros Islet in St. Lucia. Pakistan need to win this game to have an outside chance of going through to the semi-final, whereas a South African win will almost ensure that they are through.

Both sides have played some inconsistent cricket in the tournament so far, but given that the Pakistani (6/4 at Bet365) side revels when pushed to the corner, it could get interesting. South Africa (8/13 at Coral), on the other hand, have not played the quality cricket it is famous for in the first rounds of any tournament, and that will mean that the game could get rather tight and go right down to the wire.

The Pakistan fans may have been critical of the half century scorer for Pakistan in the previous game for the manner in which he took a single to get off strike off the last ball, but he was the only batsman from the side, who has got his eye in twice. For some strange reason, Umar Akmal’s (5/1 at Stan James) loss of form, and Misbah-ul-Haq’s (8/1 at Sky Bet to top-score for his side) inability to hit the ball some distance has left Shahid Afridi (7/1 at Totesport to be Pakistan’s best batsman) with no option to promote himself up the order. That strategy has not worked and the batting is in disarray.

Abdul Razzaq (16/1 at Bet Fred to top-score for Pakistan) could be rooting for a promotion at the numbers 4 or 5, to be able to see off the first few deliveries and then take the opposition on, in much the same manner as Albie Morkel had done to New Zealand.

Talking of Albie Morkel (12/1 at Sky Bet to top-score for his side), it was that innings from him that allowed the South Africans to win their only game in the tournament, against a Test playing nation. It is obvious that the South Africans will need to do much better than this to qualify for the semi-finals and for that, Graeme Smith (3/1 at Bet Fred) and Jacques Kallis (11/4 at Blue Square, both to top-score for their side) will need to come good at the top of the order. After one good knock, Herschelle Gibbs (5/1 at Sky Bet to top-score for South Africa) was left struggling, but should maintain his position, while the middle-order will continue to be guarded by AB de Villiers and JP Duminy.

The question, though is, who will bat in a manner that will allow the side to overcome the scars from their lack of runs in the previous games in the tournament.

Tips:
Favourites: Pakistan (6/4 at Bet365)
Top Pakistan batsman: Abdul Razzaq (16/1 at Bet Fred)
Top South Africa batsman: Graeme Smith (3/1 at Bet Fred)