Crouch, bind, set - and bowl

Times Media

TELFORD VICE, Auckland

SOUTH Africans will be pleased to know that the first team from their country who played at Eden Park came away victorious - the 1921 Springboks beat the All Blacks 9-5 in the inaugural rugby test at the ground.

On Thursday, when Russell Domingo was asked what it meant to his men to play at one of rugby’s most storied citadels, the gentleman’s game engaged in by hooligans was indeed on the SA coach’s mind.

“Play rugby? Not against the All Blacks,” Domingo joked. “We would like to play Pakistan in rugby.”

Because SA would be guaranteed victory?

Having dummied, Domingo daggered through the gap: “Not with Irfan at lock.”

Ah, Mohammad Irfan, all seven-foot-two of him. And Wahab Riaz. And Rahat Ali. They are left-arm fast bowlers all, and each is capable of derailing the train that has made SA the only team in one-day history to post totals of more than 400 twice in two games.

“The tall man, Irfan, has been bowling really well,” Domingo said. “Wahab Riaz has bowled the quickest ball in the competition thus far - 154 (km/h). They are definitely an attack that needs to be respected and we need to take care against them.”

Irfan and Wahab claimed four wickets each against Zimbabwe in Brisbane on Sunday, while Rahat is the only fast bowler in the tournament who has an economy rate below four among those who have sent down at least 20 overs. Pakistan’s odd man out, Sohail Khan - he bowls with the other arm - took 5/55 against India in Adelaide on February 15.

That the only pace attack in the tournament who could rival SA’s for sheer aggression should come up against a batting line-up that bristles with biff, bang and bravado represents an island of magic in the sea of mundanity the World Cup is becoming.

Who and what does it serve if teams reel off huge totals unchecked? Pakistan have the ability to counter that narrative. SA have a juggernaut of a batting line-up that nonetheless proved itself fallible by lurching to 177 all out against India’s mediocre bowlers.

The two will clash on Friday in a match that has important implications for what happens for both teams’ future in the tournament: Irfan, Wahab and Rahat versus Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, both of them hot off hundreds. Now that’s a contest.

SA will want to put their best XI on the field to meet the challenge. Who might comprise that team has become a significant debate, what with Rilee Rossouw and Kyle Abbott making fine use of the opportunities created for them by injuries to JP Duminy and Vernon Philander.

Both the latter have missed SA’s matches against West Indies and Ireland. They were due to undergo fitness tests on Thursday.

“JP (who has a side strain) will definitely get back in the mix if he is fit,” Domingo said. “He has been one of our best players over a period of time.

“We need to make sure Vernon is 100% ready to go because we need to be careful with a hamstring strain with the important stage of the competition still to come.”

That sounds like Duminy will replace Rossouw and Abbott will get another chance to stand in for Philander.

Friday’s game is these teams’ first serious test since their losses to India. Since then Pakistan have also lost to West Indies before pulling things back against Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates. SA have beaten Zimbabwe, West Indies and Ireland.

There is, then, a lot to play for at Eden Park on Friday. Crouch, bind, set ...

SA v Pakistan in World Cups:

P3 W3 (1992 - 1999)

Highest totals:

For: 243/5 (Karachi - February 29, 1996)

Against: 242/6 (Karachi - February 29, 1996)

Lowest totals:

For: 211/7 (Brisbane - March 8, 1992)

Against: 173 (Brisbane - March 8, 1992)

Highest scores:

For: Daryll Cullinan 65 (Karachi - February 29, 1996)

Against: Aamer Sohail 111 (Karachi - February 29, 1996)

Best bowling:

For: Adrian Kuiper 3/40 (Brisbane - March 8, 1992)

Against: Azhar Mahmood 3/24 (Nottingham - June 5, 1999)