As the ICC World T20 2020 is around the corner, South Africa would love to maintain their good form with the ball. However, alongside their fiery bowling, they will try to capitalize with the bat as well. After the 2018 World Cup, they have played 16 matches and managed to win half of them. Though they have scored at less than 7 runs per over, they managed to win two bilateral series against Srilanka (3-0) and Pakistan (3-2), while losing the series against India (1-3) and New Zealand (1-3).
Key Players
Dane Van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luss, Shabnim Ismail.
X-Factor
Mignon Du Preez, Chole Tyron
Mignon Du Preez, who has seen many summers and winters in Protea colours is going to be one of the key members of this team. She has played a huge role with 404 runs in recently concluded WBBL for Melbourne Stars. She has played with a strike rate of 120 where she took less than 7 balls to hit a boundary.
Her experience in the Australian pitches is going to be a huge boost and determining factor for this South African side. If Du Prez is the apostle of stability in the middle order, big hitter Tyron will be an x-factor for South Africa. She comes to bat at down the order and possess the immense capabilities to turn the matches for them. Her 278 runs which came at a brisk pace, as she batted with a strike rate of 178.
Which is more important is that she took less than 4 balls (3.65) to hit each boundaries for Hobart Hurricanes in WBBL05. In the 1st practice match too, she batted with a strike rate of 255 which was useful in the course of the match.
Strength
The versatile bowling attack is one of the biggest strengths of this South African side. The pace attack, comprised of Ismail who has taken 16 wickets, Marizanne Kapp who despite having played fewer matches picked up 6 wickets with an economy less than 6. At the same time, Khaka and left-arm pacer Klass will lead the charge as well. Seaming all-rounder Nadine De Klerk who has picked up 14 wickets after the conclusion of the 2018 World Cup till now is crucial for South Africa with bat and ball.
Spin Trio, comprised of left-arm off-spinner Mlaba, and two leg spinner Luss (14 wickets with an economy of 7. 85) and Niekerk can also create trouble for the opposition batter in Australian surfaces. South African bowlers were phenomenal in the previous edition. They have conceded less than 6 runs per over in all of their matches. In 4 matches they have delivered 74.1 overs, conceding only 372 runs, picking up 23 wickets.
Devastating opener Lizelle Lee will be once again the go-to batter for the Protea management. She has scored 380 runs with a strike rate of 130 in 13 matches after the previous World T-20. While Laura Wolvaardt, Mignon Du Prez, Nadine Klerk, Luss, Kapp, and Niekerk will solidify the middle and lower-middle order.
Chloe Tyron with her hitting abilities can turn out to b the game-changer. She has scored runs with a strike rate of 147, which at times can decide the fate of the match at a crucial juncture. In the last season Lee, Du Prez, Kapp, Niekerk, Tyron and Ismail played for the different WBBL teams which can turn out to be a plus point for them as well.
Weakness
If bowling is the area, the South African management can trust on, batting remain of the biggest concern. In the 2018 World T-20 as well, Proteas suffered a lot because of their batting failure. The big guns failed to deliver and South Africa failed to chase 108 against West Indies, scored only 83 against England. The lack of proper batters apart from Lee, Wolvaardt and Du Prez, too much dependency on the allrounders can cause a downfall.
While the allrounders had delivered for the team, when they have asked in the past, they have failed too in the crucial matches as well which resulted in the elimination from the group stage in the last year’s World Cup. In the recent series against New Zealand, their batters didn’t click again which led the series defeat by 1-3 margin. Chole Tyron’s form is an also area of concern for the management.
She hasn’t scored many runs in that series including two ducks and Dane van Niekerk will be looking desperately to Tyron to get back in form and win matches for them. South Africa, besides defeating Thailand and Pakistan, need to win at least one match against England or West Indies to move towards the semi-final. With the firepowers in their bowling arsenal, if South Africa play according to their potential, they can be a team to reckon with and can qualify for the semi-finals.
Team
Laura Woolvardt, Lizelle Lee, Chloe Tyron, Dane Van Niekerk (C) Marizanne Kapp, Nadie De Klerk, Sune Luss, Mignon Du Prez, Tisha Chetty, Ayabong Khaka, Masabata Klass, Nondumiso Shangase, Shabnim Ismail, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba
Head To Head
vs England – Played 18 Won 2 Lost 15 NR/T- 1
vs Thailand- Played 0 Won 0 Lost 0 NR/T-0
vs Pakistan- Played 14 Won 8 Lost 6 NR/T- 0
vs West Indies- Played 17 Won 4 Lost 13 NR/T- 0
Fixtures
23/2- vs England, 4.30 PM (IST)
28/2- vs Thailand, 9.30 AM (IST)
01/3- vs Pakistan, 9.30 AM (IST)
03/3- vs West Indies, 1.30 PM (IST)
