Parnell confident SA can level series in PE

South Africa fast bowler Wayne Parnell is confident the Proteas will be able to level the ODI series against Pakistan in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday, after losing the opening match in Cape Town on the weekend.

South Africa fast bowler Wayne Parnell is confident the Proteas will be able to level the ODI series against Pakistan in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday, after losing the opening match in Cape Town on the weekend.

Pakistan won the match by 23 runs at Newlands, having already won the second T20 at the same venue a few days before. But Parnell was confident a change of location would boost the Proteas, who won the series in the UAE four-one earlier in the month.

Parnell told <b>Business Day</b>: "We are disappointed with what happened in Cape Town but, having said that, I feel the wicket was a bit harder than everyone made it out to be. We saw the wicket deteriorating in the afternoon, which made it difficult for stroke playing.

"In PE the wicket might be a bit slow, so we will be hoping to rectify things and to come back and level 1-1, and go on to win the series."

Of his own participation, Parnell hoped he'd get to play on his home ground, St George's Park, saying: "It would be nice if I get an opportunity to play in front of the home fans and the band always gives us a push.

"The wicket generally tends to get a bit slower in the afternoon, but I haven't seen the wicket. Everyone's looking forward to an improved performance after being 1-0 down but we are pretty confident that we can bounce back.

"Facing Pakistan is nice preparation for when India comes over. Every international match for your country is an honour and we go out there to win."

The paceman also said that while this series was important in the short term, the players were looking to the India and Australia series to help them prepare for the World Twenty20 next year and the ODI World Cup the year after.

He said: "We want to win those series against India and Australia, but are also looking forward to next year's Twenty20 World Cup and the 2015 World Cup.

"So the India and Australia tours we want to use as stepping stones towards that bigger picture. Testing ourselves against these quality teams is massive for the team."

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