ICC World Cup 2023, ENG vs SA | Five Player Battles To Watch Out For

image-lnyk0uotSouth Africa is coming on the back of a loss vs Netherlands 

The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is all set to host the Match 20 of the World Cup 2023 between England and South Africa on Saturday, October 21.

ENG vs SA: Player battles to watch out for

Defending champions England have faced a turbulent start, tasting a heavy defeat against New Zealand, rallying to overcome Bangladesh, but then succumbing unexpectedly to Afghanistan. The team is under pressure and will be hoping to bring their journey back on track with a decisive win here.

On the other hand, South Africa began their campaign in style with commendable victories over Sri Lanka and Australia. However, they faced an unexpected blip, getting stunned by the underdogs, the Netherlands. With both teams nursing recent wounds, this encounter promises electrifying cricket. Here’s a look at the top five ENG vs SA player battles.

Quinton de Kock vs Reece Topley

image-lnyk7536Quinton de Kock (Twitter)

South African wicketkeeper-batsman, Quinton de Kock, has had engaging contests with England's left-arm seamer, Reece Topley. In their encounters, de Kock has accumulated 85 runs off 95 deliveries with a strike rate of 89.5, while Topley has managed to snare him once. The dynamics of Topley's swing against de Kock's flamboyant shot-making promise an exhilarating contest during the powerplay.

Jonny Bairstow vs Lungi Ngidi

image-lnyk7ifdJonny Bairstow (Twitter)

England's aggressive opener, Jonny Bairstow, has shown dominance against South Africa's spearhead, Lungi Ngidi. Bairstow has piled up 53 runs from just 38 balls at a fierce strike rate of 139.5 without being dismissed. Ngidi's pace and bounce versus Bairstow's aggressive approach set up an enthralling face-off in the initial phase of the innings.


Heinrich Klaasen vs Adil Rashid

image-lnyk9cf2Heinrich Klaasen (Twitter)

South African batsman, Heinrich Klaasen, will be up against the leg-spin of Adil Rashid. Klaasen has managed 54 runs from 44 deliveries against Rashid, getting dismissed once, averaging 54.0 with a strike rate of 122.7. The battle of wits between Klaasen's skills against spin and Rashid's brilliance is set to make for a fascinating battle.

Ben Stokes vs Keshav Maharaj

image-lnyk8aa2Ben Stokes (Twitter)

Returning English all-rounder, Ben Stokes is set to lock horns with left-arm spinner, Keshav Maharaj. Against the Protean spinner, Stokes has scored 29 runs off 21 balls, being dismissed once at an average of 29.0 and a strike rate of 138.1. Maharaj, with his consistency and variations, will look to challenge Stokes, making this a key middle-over contest.

Jos Buttler vs Marco Jansen

image-lnyk8lamJos Buttler (Twitter)

England captain and explosive middle-order batter, Jos Buttler, has had his challenges against young pacer, Marco Jansen. Buttler has garnered 22 runs in 36 balls, with Jansen dismissing him once, averaging 22.0 at a strike rate of 61.1. Jansen's ability to extract movement against Buttler's liking for taking on bowlers early promises a thrilling clash.