Although they have underlined their form by brushing aside Pakistan with almost arrogant ease in the preliminary round, the big event of this Standard Bank Triangular tournament is the final at Newlands and a 24 hours delay caused by rain is not going to make it any easier.
Since 1994 when they won the first leg of the WSC triangular in Australia and then lost the remaining two games, South Africa have been accused of ``choking'' when it counted most. And their ODI history is littered with such tombstones: Sydney, Mumbai, and Karachi being among the more notable tournament defeats.
Hansie Cronje is convinced Newlands will not be added to that list and admitted quiet confidence of taking the crown off Pakistan in today's rescheduled final. He has pointed to the success in Nairobi in the Kenya Centenary event 19 months ago, and the victory in the Wills Quadrangular last October, as two significant signposts.
``We have a well balanced squad and the rotation system has worked in our favour in this series,'' he said yesterday. ``But we cannot lose sight of the unpredictability of the short game.'' A hint, perhaps, South Africa might have peaked in the final two matches of the preliminary round?
``Not at all. We are very confident of maintaining our success rate over Pakistan,'' he added.
Yet, in the lottery conditions that often exist in the one-day game, Pakistan have the players who can bounce back. Wasim Akram's ability to snap up three or four quick wickets as well as smash a swift 50 under pressure conditions is well known.
He has managed to achieve both against Sri Lanka while his form in the pool matches against South Africa has been steady but not great. And he is known to be the man for big occasion. This time, without the burden of captaincy he has a chance to again spread panic in the South African ranks as he did in the Total Triangular in early 1993.
And Inzamam-ul-Haq, having found his form aginst Sri Lanka, lost it against South Africa. Yet he too would enjoy ending his tour with a few more runs under his belt than he has managed.
Cronje, however, feels the strategies put in place for the final are geared to help South Africa take the trophy today. The big question is whether Roger Telemachus, Lance Klusener or Steve Elworthy going to sit out this final. Klusener's form has left a serious questionmark against his ability to deliver at this stage of the season.
Newlands has a reputation as a low-scoring venue in one-day games and is a factor Cronje and the coach, Bob Woolmer, are well aware. Anything in excess of 240 is seen as a good total
But, as Shaun Pollock cheerily chipped in at yesterday's net session, ``Setting a target of 280 is not impossible ... We'll take it from there.''
Teams:
South Africa (from): Gary Kirsten, Mike Rindel, Herschelle Gibbs, jacques kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Hansie Cronje (capt), Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Pat Symcox, Steve Elworthy, Allan Donald, Derek Crookes, Roger Telemachus.
Pakistan (from): Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Hussain, Abdul Razzak, Wasim Akramm, Moin Khan, Mohammad Wasim, Rashid Latif (capt), Waqar Younis, Yousuf Youhana, Mushtaq Ahmed.
Umpires: Cyril Mitchely and Rudi Koetzern; TV umpire: Dave Orchard.
Match referee, John Reid.
Hours of play: 10.00am.1.30pm; 2.00pm-5.30pm, TV 1:9.30; M-Net DSV 10am