Match Preview: South Africa takes on dented Zimbabwe

VENUE: Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Ground, Hambantota

DATE: 20^th September, 2012

TIME: 19:30 (IST)

As South Africa is all set to begin its T2o world cup challenge, surely the platitude “South Africa chokes in big tournaments” must have crossed Zimbabwe’s mind, and the fact that they recently won against them must have strengthened their confidence. But a day ago they crumbled before the Sri Lankans in the first game, and it must have had some impact on the Zimbabweans. But they can leave that behind and bounce back. And South Africa will bear this in mind and will not take the opponents lightly for any fumble may cost them dearly. Given the fact that they are a top notch team and a title contender, they are expected to win this game easily.

It will be AB de Villiers’ first tournament as a skipper and he will be aiming to justify his team’s rankings. South Africa’s batting line-up runs deep and it is their strong point. Hashim Amla, Richard Levi and AB de Villiers make for a strong top order with different style and temperament. Jacques Kallis adds solidity to the team’s middle order, which also consists of talented Faf du Plessis, and JP Duminy. Though Kallis remains the best all-rounder of South Africa, the team can also rely on the all-round skills of off-spinner John Botha and medium pacer Albie Morkel. AB de Villiers has the privilege of having the services of the best genuine pacers in the form of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, and good spinners Robin Peterson and Botha to assist them. Their strong, accurate and potent bowling makes South Africa a formidable team. They have played forty seven international T20s so far and won thirty out of them, a considerable number to show that they are a top team and can go on to win the tournament.

For the other African nation, majority of the players are the same who played in 2010 T20 WC and still Zimbabwe has shown no signs of improvement. Lack of consistency and depth in bowling was clear in the practice match against Sri Lanka, when they failed to sustain the control they initially managed over the formidable line-up of the opponent. Graeme Cremer was the only bowler who stood out with his spin, which mostly were full length deliveries on the off side and googlies which made him difficult to play. Right arm spinner, Prosper Utseya made a decent effort to curtail the flow of runs but the pacers disappointed and later on, batsmen simply capitulated and did not show any signs of resistance to the spinners. If they want to make a turnaround, players like Masakadza, Brendon Taylor and Mpofu will have to stand tall to encourage others to perform and the bowlers will have to show more discipline. The team has till date played twenty one T20 international and has managed mere three wins. With Afghanistan and Ireland rising through the ranks, it’s Zimababwe’s last chance to try for the next stage and for this to happen, a comprehensive effort is required.

Earlier, both the teams have met twice in official T20 games and in both it was South Africa who dominated. It was in 2010 and of late, in June 2012, they encountered each other in Harare in an unofficial T20 series, which Zimbabwe won.

PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR

Faf du Plessis : Only two T20 internationals old, this batsman fared outstandingly in IPL5, scoring at an average of 33.16 with a strike rate of 130.92 and it is his chance now to score big for South Africa.

Hashim Amla: This wristy right handed opener is in the form of his life and he is the one on whom rests the responsibility of building a platform for other players to carry on, which he does so regularly.

Morne Morkel: Of late this genuine pacer has been instrumental in almost every victory South Africa has achieved. His pace, ability to extract bounce and calm demeanour makes him the spearhead of the S. African bowling. He is a threat for every opponent.

Brendon Taylor: He has the highest batting average, of 31.08 amongst his team mates in T20 internationals. And it’s the time that he raises the bar and lead from the front. A performance similar to the one during 2007 T20 World Cup is needed from him to take his team home. And he is capable of putting up an aggressive show at a time when his team needs it the most.

Graeme Cremer: His intelligent and economic bowling will again be important. He bowled with accuracy and variation and claimed a wicket at an economy of 6.75 in the last match, he will be the bowler South Africa needs to be wary of.

Hamilton Masakadza: With his batting average of 27.57 in T20 internationals, he is among the top batsmen in his team. The way he began against Lanka shows that he has it in him to give an aggressive and positive start. South Africans will be wary of him at the start of the Zimbabwean innings.