TOSS | Rubin Hermann earns ODI debut as Proteas bat first in series-decider

The Proteas won the toss and opted to bat first in the third and series-deciding One Day International at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Saturday.

Captain Matthew Breetzke called correctly at the toss and did not hesitate to bat first, as he looked to unleash the in-form opening batters Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Quinton de Kock.

Breetzke believes that runs on the board are key, as they are playing on a used pitch at the Iqbal Stadium.

“We are going to put up a score and hopefully defend it. There are a lot of theories around, but we just feel that runs on the board are important, so that’s what we are going for,”Breetzke said at the toss.

“We have to assess after the 10 overs, but anything over 290 will be nice — but we’ll have to see.”

Sinethemba Qeshile, who earned his ODI debut in the first match of the series, has been a late withdrawal from the playing XI due to a left fifth-finger sprain.

Left-handed batter Rubin Hermann has been named as his replacement in the XI, with the in-form batter earning his debut in ODI cricket.

Hermann has been in excellent form for South Africa A, having struck back-to-back centuries against New Zealand A here at home a couple of months ago.

The batter has certainly earned his opportunity and is expected to continue playing his explosive style against Pakistan on Saturday.

Proteas Playing XI 
1. Quinton de Kock
2. Lhuan-dre Pretorius
3. Tony de Zorzi
4. Matthew Breetzke
5. Rubin Hermann
6. Donovan Ferreira
7. Corbin Bosch
8. Bjorn Fortuin
9. Nqaba Peter
10. Nandre Burger
11. Lungi Ngidi