'We'll make sure we're on it,' promises Proteas' Corbin Bosch ahead of 'must-win' second ODI

Corbin Bosch claims the Proteas have no option but to approach the remaining two matches of the ODI series as “must-win” if the visitors are to salvage their tour of Pakistan.

The Proteas have spent a lengthy period in Pakistan, their first all-format tour since England three years ago, which has been further exacerbated with the stringent security measures in place.

Bosch, along with Tony de Zorzi, are the only Proteas still standing that have been in Pakistan from the start of the tour. Dewald Brevis is also still in Pakistan but is undergoing rehabilitation on a shoulder injury after being ruled out of the one-day series on Tuesday.

The Test series finished on a positive note with the Proteas levelling the series in Rawalpindi - their first Test win in Pakistan for 18 years - but the white-ball segment of the tour is starting to plummet.

With relatively inexperienced squads selected for both the T20I and ODI series due to a number of regulars being rested for the upcoming Test series in India, the Proteas have now lost three consecutive matches. 

Pakistan won both T20Is in Lahore to seal the series 2-1, and coupled with Tuesday’s opening ODI victory in Faisalabad, the home side could now also claim the one-day series on Thursday.

“We're going to approach the next two games as a must-win. We came here to win this series. And I think that's what we're going to strive to do,” said Bosch, who scored 41 and claimed 2/32, in the two-wicket defeat.

“We'll make sure that we're on it in the next game so that we can really win this ODI series.”

The Proteas handed out three ODI debuts in the series opener with Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira and Sinethemba Qeshile all being capped for the first time in the 50-over format. 

The rookies all showed off their potential with Pretorius (57 off 60 balls) stroking a maiden ODI half-century, Qeshile delivering a sprightly 22 and Ferreira showing his all-round abilities with figures of 2/53 from his nine overs. 

But their inexperience showed as the Proteas lost wickets in clusters, which limited the visitors to 263 all out.

Bosch believes that despite the Proteas missing a number of stalwarts, they do have the sufficient quality within their ranks to come back into the series. 

“I think we have an incredible team here. We've got fantastic bowlers. We have world-class players that have played all over the world,” he said.

“All the guys are working hard and we're not far away from putting in a really, really good performance as a bowling unit. We have top-class spinners. We have top-class seamers. And we have top-class batters. I think we're not far off from really giving Pakistan a good run.”

The second and third ODIs will both be played in Faisalabad on a surface that offered the spinners appreciable turn in the first international match at the Iqbal Stadium in 17 years.

“I think the wicket was definitely a tough one,” Bosch said. “I think both sides showed that it's probably a new ball wicket. The ball turned quite a bit after that. So, the spinners played a crucial part.

“I think for both teams, both sets of spinners were on top of it. And I think that's why we were just 10-15 runs short of probably winning this game at the end of the day.”

The second ODI will start at 1pm (SA time).