NEW DELHI: England's batters are displaying their form just in time for the T20 World Cup Super 8s, setting the stage for a crucial Group-2 match against South Africa on Friday. Having secured a dominant win over the West Indies with an eight-wicket victory, England aim to continue their momentum against South Africa, who themselves are coming off a win over the USA despite a close call.
Against the West Indies, England's dominating performance placed them at the top of the group due to an impressive Net Run Rate of +1.34, compared to South Africa's +0.90. A victory in the upcoming match would significantly boost their chances of reaching the semifinals of this ICC event.
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Conversely, South Africa had a tougher time against the USA, managing an 18-run win in their Super Eight opener.
English opener Phil Salt, ranked No. 2 T20I batter in the world, showcased his skill with an unbeaten 87 as he navigated a challenging 181-run chase with a blend of caution and aggression.
Salt, along with skipper Jos Buttler, will aim to provide another strong start for England. Buttler, despite a 42-run effort in their loss to Australia in the group stage, has accumulated only 91 runs from four innings. Jonny Bairstow's return to form, reflected in his crucial 48 not out against the West Indies, is another positive sign for England. Bairstow had struggled earlier in the tournament, scoring just 46 runs with two single-digit dismissals.
The South African bowlers, especially Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, face the challenge of containing England's powerful batting lineup. Rabada and Maharaj previously demonstrated exceptional control and discipline to secure a win over the USA, who failed to chase 28 runs in the final two overs.
Quinton de Kock's resurgence is a key uplifting factor for South Africa. After several mediocre performances with the bat, De Kock scored an aggressive 74 off 40 balls against the USA.
According to PTI, England's familiarity with conditions, having played against the West Indies already, may provide them an edge.
England's bowlers also demonstrated commendable skill by delivering 52 dot balls against the West Indies, preventing them from reaching a second consecutive 200-plus total. Adil Rashid's exceptional economy rate of 5.25 and Jofra Archer's 12 dot balls were instrumental in restricting the Windies. This effective containment strategy reduced the Windies' potential total by at least 20 runs.
Both teams now prepare for what promises to be a high-stakes encounter, with the winner likely setting one foot into the semifinals.
Teams (from)
England: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonathan Bairstow, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley and Mark Wood.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi and Tristan Stubbs.
Match starts at 8pm IST.
