South Africa vs. Pakistan: Date, Live Stream, TV Info, Cricket World Cup Preview

Both Pakistan and South Africa had somewhat indifferent starts to their 2015 World Cup campaigns, before turning their fortunes around.

Pakistan were thrashed by India and West Indies before edging Zimbabwe and convincingly beating the United Arab Emirates.

South Africa picked up a routine opening victory over Zimbabwe before suffering a crushing defeat to India, but they have turned things around with huge wins over West Indies and Ireland.

The pair meet in Pool B in Auckland on Saturday, and all scheduling, television and live streaming details can be found below, as well as a preview.

Date: Saturday, March 7

Start Time: 2 p.m. local, 1 a.m. GMT

TV Info: Sky Sports 2

Live Stream: Sky Go

Preview

Hannah Peters/Getty Images

South Africa are most certainly the favourites for the Eden Park clash with Pakistan; the Proteas have been simply outstanding with the bat of late.

They scored over 400 in beating both West Indies and Ireland, with Faf Du Plessis, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers all scoring centuries in the process.

As cricket statistician Mohandas Menon noted, Pakistan can still qualify for the quarter-finals if they lose to South Africa:

But they will need to at least restrict South Africa with the bat, as net run rate could end up being key come the end of the group stages. 

If Pakistan are to compete against the very top teams, they need to start performing consistently with the bat.

After posting poor totals against India, West Indies and Zimbabwe, they finally went over 300 against the UAE, and they will need a similarly high score against South Africa.

However, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir are a force to be reckoned with as a bowling unit, along with relative newcomer Kyle Abbott, who is in terrific form, per Cricket South Africa:

Pakistan's Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi will need to be at their very best if they are to score big—as they will need to—in Auckland.

South Africa's crushing defeat to India in their second match means they are unlikely to be able to top Pool B, but they are in the driving seat to take second place, per Sky Sports Cricket:

Momentum will be key going into the knockout rounds, and South Africa will be looking to maintain theirs with another big victory over Pakistan.

The conditions should favour the Proteas, and Pakistan may be looking to their final group game with Ireland as a more realistic victory.

However, the Pakistanis do have a reputation for unpredictability, and they could, with all their experience, spring a surprise against South Africa.

But it is a big ask, and it will require a batting performance as yet unseen from Pakistan Down Under, and even a 350 total may not be enough against the brutal South African hitting.