Abdullah719
T20I Captain
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Runs
- 44,825
Rattled South Africa seek redemption against rampant Australia
Australia's 107-run win in the first T20I at the Wanderers marked their eighth straight win in as many completed T20Is. Can hosts South Africa lift themselves up from the result to keep the series alive?
The return of the experienced Faf du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada did little to benefit South Africa, who were outplayed in all three departments in the series opener. The lack of efficiency in the field hurt them to a great extent, and that was acknowledged by the skipper Quinton de Kock after their biggest-ever defeat in terms of runs on Friday, 21 February.
With no confirmation on Temba Bavuma's fitness as yet, the hosts might consider having du Plessis open the innings, a role in which he has excelled for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, allowing Rassie van der Dussen to go back to his preferred middle-order slot. As for the bowling, they will be worried about Lungi Ngidi's form. The fast bowler has been expensive in his last three outings. South Africa might even consider giving a game to Anrich Nortje.
The visitors, on the contrary, seem to be in a settled place. Their top-three look good on both counts, form and experience, while the middle-order batsmen Matthew Wade, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey, are primed to produce the goods when required, given the kind of form each of them showed during the Big Bash League at home.
While the quality of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa leaves almost no room for doubt, Ashton Agar's five-for at the Wanderers and Kane Richardson's outstanding run at the BBL rounds up a fine T20I bowling unit.
Another win will help Australia maintain their unbeaten run in T20I series since November 2018. That will extend South Africa's winless run in international bilateral series; their last victory came in the T20I series against Sri Lanka last March.
Remember the last time:
South Africa had the early advantage after opting to bowl, with Dale Steyn getting the key wicket of Warner in the very first over on Friday. That however, did little to deter Finch and Smith, who forged an 80-run stand at 10 runs per over to put the visitors on top. Australia did stumble from 84-1 to 117-4, but Carey (27) and Agar's quickfire nine-ball unbeaten 20, powered them to 196-6 at the end of 20 overs.
The hosts crumbled right at the start during the chase. While de Kock was undone by Starc's lethal out-swinger, van der Dussen and Jon Jon Smuts succumbed to Cummins due to the mounting required-rate. Zampa and Agar applied the finishing touches thereafter: the latter bagged a hat-trick and eventually finished with 5/24, his best-ever returns in T20Is to give Australia a comprehensive 107-run win.
What they said:
Quinton de Kock, South Africa captain: "The energy was there but the skills just weren't enough (in the first T20I). Obviously we try and pride ourselves with our fielding and we weren't at our best. There isn't much you can do at practice, it has to be a mental thing for the boys. We hope to come back with that fight on Sunday"
Aaron Finch, Australia captain: "We set the tone in the field, took a couple of sharp chances and Ashton bowled really well, overall it was a good performance. When you are scoring 200 the start is very important. I thought the way we attacked the crease and the lengths we bowled was fantastic. If someone blasts a good ball off you, you take your hat off to them."
Conditions:
Sunny periods can be expected during the start of the game, accompanied by a gentle breeze. The Test match played between South Africa and England last month saw spinners play a significant role in the game's outcome and it won't come as a major surprise if the same happens on Sunday, considering the recent form of the slower bowlers from either side.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1620376
Australia's 107-run win in the first T20I at the Wanderers marked their eighth straight win in as many completed T20Is. Can hosts South Africa lift themselves up from the result to keep the series alive?
The return of the experienced Faf du Plessis and Kagiso Rabada did little to benefit South Africa, who were outplayed in all three departments in the series opener. The lack of efficiency in the field hurt them to a great extent, and that was acknowledged by the skipper Quinton de Kock after their biggest-ever defeat in terms of runs on Friday, 21 February.
With no confirmation on Temba Bavuma's fitness as yet, the hosts might consider having du Plessis open the innings, a role in which he has excelled for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, allowing Rassie van der Dussen to go back to his preferred middle-order slot. As for the bowling, they will be worried about Lungi Ngidi's form. The fast bowler has been expensive in his last three outings. South Africa might even consider giving a game to Anrich Nortje.
The visitors, on the contrary, seem to be in a settled place. Their top-three look good on both counts, form and experience, while the middle-order batsmen Matthew Wade, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey, are primed to produce the goods when required, given the kind of form each of them showed during the Big Bash League at home.
While the quality of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa leaves almost no room for doubt, Ashton Agar's five-for at the Wanderers and Kane Richardson's outstanding run at the BBL rounds up a fine T20I bowling unit.
Another win will help Australia maintain their unbeaten run in T20I series since November 2018. That will extend South Africa's winless run in international bilateral series; their last victory came in the T20I series against Sri Lanka last March.
Remember the last time:
South Africa had the early advantage after opting to bowl, with Dale Steyn getting the key wicket of Warner in the very first over on Friday. That however, did little to deter Finch and Smith, who forged an 80-run stand at 10 runs per over to put the visitors on top. Australia did stumble from 84-1 to 117-4, but Carey (27) and Agar's quickfire nine-ball unbeaten 20, powered them to 196-6 at the end of 20 overs.
The hosts crumbled right at the start during the chase. While de Kock was undone by Starc's lethal out-swinger, van der Dussen and Jon Jon Smuts succumbed to Cummins due to the mounting required-rate. Zampa and Agar applied the finishing touches thereafter: the latter bagged a hat-trick and eventually finished with 5/24, his best-ever returns in T20Is to give Australia a comprehensive 107-run win.
What they said:
Quinton de Kock, South Africa captain: "The energy was there but the skills just weren't enough (in the first T20I). Obviously we try and pride ourselves with our fielding and we weren't at our best. There isn't much you can do at practice, it has to be a mental thing for the boys. We hope to come back with that fight on Sunday"
Aaron Finch, Australia captain: "We set the tone in the field, took a couple of sharp chances and Ashton bowled really well, overall it was a good performance. When you are scoring 200 the start is very important. I thought the way we attacked the crease and the lengths we bowled was fantastic. If someone blasts a good ball off you, you take your hat off to them."
Conditions:
Sunny periods can be expected during the start of the game, accompanied by a gentle breeze. The Test match played between South Africa and England last month saw spinners play a significant role in the game's outcome and it won't come as a major surprise if the same happens on Sunday, considering the recent form of the slower bowlers from either side.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1620376
