The depth of fast bowlers at South Africa's disposal was no better evidenced than on Thursday as Corbin Bosch and Dale Paterson took nine of the 10 wickets to dismiss Pakistan for 211 on the opening day of the first Test at Centurion.
Tristan Stubbs scored an unbeaten career-best 112 from 81 balls as South Africa thumped Ireland by 174 runs to clinch their three-game One-day International series with a game to spare in a hot and humid Abu Dhabi on Friday.
The ICC Champions Trophy is set to kick off in Pakistan, marking the country's first ICC event since the 1996 World Cup.
The absence of Shakib Al Hasan has come as a relief to South Africa as they embark on a two-test series in Bangladesh but stand-in captain Aiden Markram does not expect the challenge to be any easier.
'His experience is immense. In our batting chat today (Friday), we basically listened to him. He gave the batting chat as to what the conditions are like, what to expect.'
South African pacer Kagiso Rabada and Test captain Temba Bavuma, who are not part of the Proteas white-ball cricket mix to gear up for the Test series against India, won't feature in domestic cricket.
South Africa are on a four-match winning streak as they face Rohit Sharma's unbeaten side in a top-of-the-table clash at the Eden Gardens
South Africa's Temba Bavuma struck his maiden Test century in quick time (102 off 148), and in so doing, became the first black South African to crack a Test ton.
South Africa completed victory inside three days after bowling West Indies out for 222, having set them a target of 263 to win the match.
A place in the ICC ODI World Cup final once again eluded the South Africans as they went down to Australia by three wickets.
South Africa should have been more clinical in the run-chase against Pakistan during the World Cup match in Chennai on Friday, said skipper Temba Bavuma, adding they were lucky to escape by the skin of their teeth.
They have looked more comfortable setting targets than chasing one though, and they will expect more penetration from their bowlers against a resurgent Australia.
South Africa will look to fix their chasing troubles before the semifinals while Afghanistan will back themselves to beat another top team
Rohit Sharma closes in on Babar Azam at the top of the ODI rankings for batters
'As a South African team, we know we're going to have that chip on our back, or that narrative that we have to get over'
Australia bowled out South Africa for a below-par 212 despite David Miller's defiant 101 but the chase was not as straightforward as Pat Cummins and his team would have liked.
Alick Athanaze fell agonisingly short of a maiden Test century but still did enough to help ensure a draw in the first Test against South Africa.
South Africa look to balance last of their World Cup preparations
Images from the ICC World Cup match between Afghanistan vs South Africa, in Ahmedabad, on Friday.
A nerve-wracking semifinal win under their belt, Australia cannot wait for the World Cup summit clash against India in Ahmedabad on Sunday, said captain Pat Cummins.
Rassie van der Dussen conceded that South Africa needs to improve chasing runs after Afghanistan's bowlers made things difficult for them in the middle overs in their World Cup match in Ahmedabad on Friday.
Injury-hit Sri Lanka and South Africa seek winning start to World Cup
The 30-year-old De Kock, who has already retired from Test cricket, confirmed he will not play One-Day Internationals beyond the World Cup.
Chasing targets has been their Achilles heel throughout the tournament. The same batters who've plundered the bowling and scored daddy hundreds batting first, have resembled pale shadows of themselves chasing targets.
Hope's superb 128 not out anchored the West Indies score of 335 for eight in their 50 overs
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma wanted a clinical performance from his bowlers after posting the highest total in World Cup history of 428/5 against Sri Lanka in their tournament-opener, adding that he was satisfied with individual achievements of his players.
Rob Walter said it would be "fitting" for the tournament's 'best' team, India to win the coveted trophy on Sunday.
Kagiso Rabada grabbed a five-wicket haul before K L Rahul rallied India to 208/8 on a rain-hit Day 1 of the first Test.
The victory moved South Africa, who picked up 10 points, into ninth place in the World Cup Super League which determines the eight automatic qualifiers for the World Cup in India later this year.
South Africa meet India in Centurion in the opening Test starting on December 26 before moving to Cape Town for the second match from January 3.
David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne led Australia to a crushing 123-run win over South Africa
South Africa broke their 24-year World Cup jinx against Pakistan with a nervy one-wicket victory and inched closer to securing a semi-final place with their fifth win in six matches.
Marnus Labuschagne came on as a concussion substitute to steer Australia to a three-wicket win over South Africa in a One-Day International on Thursday.
Images from the World Cup 2023 match between Australia and South Africa.
For the golden generation of Indian cricketers, this is their last chance to conquest what no other team could on eight previous tours.
World Cup's perennial 'chokers' South Africa, having taken the group stage by storm with their power-packed batting, fell short in the semifinal
Markram ton and spin twins see South Africa to ODI win over Australia
South Africa host Australia for three T20 matches from August 30 to September 3 and five ODIs from September 7 to 17.
The Netherlands caused a stunning upset by beating South Africa by 38 runs in a rain-shortened match.
South Africa's shock exit at last year's Twenty20 World Cup following a loss to the Netherlands with much the same group of players still weighs heavy on captain Temba Bavuma.
