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South Africa bats first in 4th ODI against Pak

Durban, Mar 21 :  South Africa lost two wickets off the first two balls of the game after winning the toss and batting first in the fourth one-day international against Pakistan at Kingsmead on Thursday.Hashim

south africa bats first in 4th odi against pak south africa bats first in 4th odi against pak
Durban, Mar 21 :  South Africa lost two wickets off the first two balls of the game after winning the toss and batting first in the fourth one-day international against Pakistan at Kingsmead on Thursday.



Hashim Amla and Colin Ingram both went for first-ball ducks to towering left-arm seamer Mohammad Irfan.

The South Africans took a 2-1 series lead into the game and made one forced change as they pushed to take the five-match series with one to spare. Batsman Faf du Plessis was sidelined with a back injury which will keep him out for six weeks. He was replaced in the middle order by David Miller.

Pakistan also made one change for the must-win game for them, bringing opening batsman Imran Farhat back into the team for Nasir Jamshed.

An unusually dry Kingsmead pitch was thought likely to suit Pakistan's slow bowlers, with the tourists continuing with spinners Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi.

But pace bowler Irfan made an immediate impact having been passed fit to play after struggling with a stomach illness in the third ODI in Johannesburg, which South Africa won by 34 runs.

South Africa's attack will again be led by pace bowlers Dale Steyn, Rory Kleinveldt and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, with Morne Morkel just missing out on selection as he continues his recovery from injury.

South Africa is seeking a first ODI series win in its last three. Pakistan beat India in India in its last series.
Lineups:

South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Colin Ingram, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Ryan McLaren, Robin Peterson, Rory Kleinveldt, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Imran Farhat, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Irfan.