Pakistan lost the first ODI of the five match series.
It has been five days since South Africa delivered one of their more convincing ODI victories but the time in between matches means it's likely the only momentum around will be the sponsors' name. The hosts enjoyed a short break with the most important change being that of regaining their premier strike bowler while Pakistan have had time to digest and regroup.South Africa vs Pakistan 2nd ODI Live Scorecard 2013
The series is almost starting anew this weekend with a double header on the Highveld which could end with the contest being decided by Sunday. For South Africa, that would signal the Champions Trophy preparation is well on track. Pakistan have to derail them to ensure next week's fixtures in Durban and Benoni provide a fitting end to the summer.
To judge Pakistan's one-day side on the Bloemfontein effort would be as unfair judging their Test outfit on the 49 all out at the Wanderers. As they showed in the longer format, they improved steadily as the contest went on and they can be expected to do that and more in the shorter version.
Tactically, they made poor decisions in the first match particularly in the make-up of their bowling attack. But crucially, they lacked energy, so much so that they asked stadium management to place a case of Red Bull in their dressing room hours before the match. The lethargy resulted in a mediocre showing in all departments and Misbah-ul-Haq conceded that a collective improvement is needed if they hope to compete.
South Africa, on the other hand, had a near-perfect showing. Their opening batsmen were slow and steady, the middle order piled it on and the bowlers finished off with enough menace and skill to satisfy captain AB de Villiers.
He still wants them to improve, not on anything specific as much as on consistency. Their recent one-day form has seen performances like theirs on Sunday, followed up by performances like Pakistan's. De Villiers wants to see them continue to apply themselves throughout the three weeks this five-match series goes on for. Only then will he consider them properly prepared for the challenges to come.
It has been a quiet few matches for Faf du Plessis , who has not scored a half-century since the home series against Pakistan began. If there is a venue where he would like to change that, it must be Centurion. Du Plessis grew from a boy to a man at the venue and has played all his domestic cricket for the Titans franchise. Although the South Africa middle order looked decidedly firmer in Bloemfontein, it is far from completely solid and du Plessis will play an important part in firming it up.
Mohammad Hafeez is one half of the alleged battle for power in the Pakistan setup. Although any suggestion of strife has been dismissed by the team management, if anything was simmering below the surface the loss last Sunday could have made it boil over. Hafeez claims he would prefer to open but, as in the Twenty20 squad, it may be better for him to drop down a place in order to provide either security or the ability to accelerate. Hafeez's bowling will also be important to Pakistan's chances of successes and he will be depended on to squeeze the hosts when needed.
