WI vs SA | 3rd T20I: Similar woes, similar struggles & a battle to move ahead

It took South Africa just one game to get back in the groove against the West Indies after losing the first game with five overs remaining. The Proteas defeated the Caribbean side on Sunday, 27 June, after their bowlers rubbed off the mistakes that they had made in the first match. 

The five-match T20I series between the two sides is now levelled at 1-1 with the third encounter scheduled to take place on Tuesday in Grenada. 

The South African pacers were on a roll during the second T20I as they ripped apart the West Indies middle-order while chasing 167 in 20 overs. It was Fabian Allen’s brisk 12-ball 34 that gave them some resistance before the hosts were eventually restricted to 150/9 in the allotted 20 overs. 

The hosts began the T20I series on a positive note with a comprehensive 8-wicket win over the South African side but soon lost the momentum. The way the middle-order failed in the second encounter for the home side is something the team management needs to take note of. 

But with players like Chris Gayle, captain Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell, the batting shouldn’t be much of a worry for West Indies for now. All the batsmen have the ability to rip apart any bowling attack on their day. 

On the other hand, South Africa are looking in fine touch and don’t really need much of a tweak. 

Match Details

Date – Sunday, June 27, 2021

Time – 11:30 PM IST

Venue – National Cricket Stadium, St George's, Grenada

Stream: Fancode

Pitch Report

The tracks haven’t really had much on offer for the pacers and the spinners might have an advantage in the third encounter as well. 

The introduction of the spinners in the middle-overs can help the bowling team restrict the batsmen to score runs quickly and create a fair bit of pressure on them. There are no chances that rain might play its part in the encounter, so, if you win the toss, bat first and then back your spinners to weave their magic in the second innings of the game.

Make no mistake, this would probably not turn out to be a low scoring encounter. If the pitch plays true to its nature, there will be a lot of runs on board. 

Team News

West Indies: The hosts had a good start to the proceedings in the first match but the middle-order collapse handed them a defeat. But the kind of experienced customers they have in the side, getting back in the groove won’t be a difficult task for the home side. 

The bowlers though have done a decent job so far and would be looking to continue with that. They haven’t let the South African middle-order to score runs, so, it would be interesting to see how the batsmen rejig the strategy. 

South Africa: South Africa are probably on the same page as West Indies. The top-order is looking in fine nick while the bowlers were exceptional in the last clash. It is only the middle-order that has struggled. Batsmen like David Miller and Klaasen should take the onus of scoring runs at a quick pace. 

Other than this, the team management doesn’t really need to be concerned about anything much. 

Probable XI

West Indies: Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Kieron Pollard (c), Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Fabian Allen, Obed McCoy, Kevin Sinclair

South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi

Fantasy XI

Chris Gayle (C), Nicholas Pooran, Quinton De Kock, Evin Lewis, Kieron Pollard (VC), Rassie van der-Dussen, Reeza Hendricks, Fabian Allen, Andre Russell, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kagiso Rabada