It’s a bright sunny day at Lord’s which is getting ready to host Sunday’s World Cup game featuring two of the worst-performing teams of the ten-nation contest – Pakistan and South Africa.
Pakistan comes into the match following back-to-back defeats against Australia and India. Under fire from all quarters, the Pakistanis know that their World Cup hopes to hang by a thread. They will have to beat the Proteas, then win their remaining three games against New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
That’s not all. With just three points from five matches, Pakistan needs results of other World Cup games to go their way in order to have a chance to make it to the last four.
South Africa, who arrived in London from Birmingham on Thursday evening, face an even worse situation. They have just one win from six World Cup outings and know that only a miracle can save them from yet another World Cup disappointment.
The Proteas came into the tournament as one of the leading title contenders but have punched below their weight in the contest where their only win has come against minnows Afghanistan.
Their poor run of form continued against the must-win game against New Zealand at Edgbaston where South Africa threw away a series of opportunities to lose by four wickets.
They’ve been so sloppy that the form book suggests Pakistan would be the favourite to win on Sunday.
