Newlands Cape Town Pitch Report For South Africa Vs Pakistan 2nd ODI

Aakash Saini

Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town [Source: @BCCI/x]Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town [Source: @BCCI/x]

South Africa will host the visiting Pakistan team in the second ODI of their three-match series at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on Thursday, December 18. The ‘Men in Green’ won the opening game at Paarl a couple of days ago to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Within the past couple of months, South Africa lost an ODI series to Afghanistan in Sharjah, and also lost one of the ODIs to Ireland in Abu Dhabi. Moreover, the Proteas have now lost their first ODI against Pakistan to go 0-1 down in the series. With 2025 Champions Trophy in sight, the South Africans will be aiming to attain some winning momentum prior to the multi-nation competition.

The Pakistan cricket team upstaged South Africa in Paarl by three wickets. Last month, under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan, the ‘Men in Green’ defeated Australia 2-1 to register their first-ever ODI series win ‘Down Under’ in over 20 overs. Pakistan also secured a 2-1 win in Zimbabwe, and will now be aiming to carry their newfound winning mindset in the remainder of the series.

Ahead of the match, let’s see how the surface of the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town will behave throughout the South Africa vs Pakistan second ODI.

Newlands Cape Town Stats And Records In ODIs

Criterion
Data
Matches Played 47
Matches won batting 1st 30
Matches won batting 2nd 16
Average 1st innings score 233
Average 2nd innings score 188

Newlands Cape Town Pitch Report: Is It Batting or Bowling Friendly? 

The surface at the Newlands Cricket Ground tends to carry more pace and bounce than Paarl’s Boland Park. However, one can expect even bounce, unlike the uneven nature of the Wanderers surface. The sunny weather at the venue will likely dry up the track to make it a batting-friendly one, especially during the first half.

Spinners will also be expected to get some turn earlier in the game, before fast bowlers can flourish in the evening. Batters, however, can play their free-flowing strokes after overcoming the new ball threat under lights. The average first innings total at the venue in all men’s ODIs so far has amounted to 237. Also, specifically in men’s ODIs, the teams batting first have won 29 matches here in comparison to the 15 won by the chasing sides. Considering the overall record and hot weather in the first half of the game, the captain winning the toss will likely opt to bat first.

Players To Watch Out For At Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town

Heinrich Klaasen

  • South African middle-order stalwart Heinrich Klaasen consolidated his team’s faltering innings by scoring a well-compiled 86 from 97 balls in Paarl a couple of days ago. Klaasen’s ability of going berserk at the death as well as that of structuring an innings makes him a formidable asset for the hosts on the Newlands surface.

Shaheen Afridi

  • Pakistan pace maverick Shaheen Afridi holds a unique penchant of making the new ball count. The 24-year-old will be expected to exploit the Newlands conditions, especially if South Africa bats second during the evening. He can consistently generate swing with the ball upfront to trouble the Proteas top-order.

Marco Jansen

  • The height factor of Marco Jansen will help him generate considerable bounce in the impending Cape Town ODI against Pakistan. Moreover, Jansen is also a formidable asset for South Africa with the bat, especially in the backend of the innings.