Written by Maverick White for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
South Africa vs Australia | Wednesday 12 March | Kingsmead | 18:00
* Considering not a ball was bowled in PE, Maverick has updated his 1st T20 preview to suit.
Persistent heavy showers in Port Elizabeth ensured a curtailed T20 series and only two matches now remain to decide a winner. With the World T20 a mere six days away, this is the last bit of match practice either side will get before the tournament in Bangladesh. A series win in the T20 format will no doubt fill the victors with confidence ahead of their journey, while form and correct combinations in selection must be finalised over the course of this week. Australia’s mission to conquer the world in all formats is well and truly underway, while the Proteas will be looking to hit their straps ahead of another limited overs competition on the world stage, a place they have not been comfortable for quite some time.
To Win
South Africa 11/10
Tie 35/1
Australia 7/10
South Africa
It’s a mixture of youth and experience that the Proteas will look to take to Bangladesh, a bunch that, on paper, seem to possess a striking balance. Hashim Amla’s exploits in the Ram Slam T20 this year earned him a place in the squad, where he will likely open the batting and anchor the top order with glorious attacking cricket strokes. He’ll have Quinton de Kock to partner him, the youngster being the perfect counterbalance given the freedom to express himself alongside the dependable Amla. A middle-order of AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy and David Miller inspires confidence, Farhaan Behardien the likely candidate to miss out. Albie Morkel is back in the Proteas mix, the world’s most experienced T20 player likely to bat low in the order and provide some assistance with the ball. He scored 202 runs in ten Ram Slam T20 innings and has experience in the subcontinent due to his extensive stay in the IPL. A pace attack made up of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel is fearsome, while South Africa have other seam options in Wayne Parnell, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and new call-up Beuran Hendricks, who impressed in the Ram Slam T20. Steyn will be sidelined until the third T20 at Centurion due to the hamstring strain picked up during the Test series. Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso are the spinners, the former likely to be a handful in Bangladesh. What side the Proteas field is anyone’s guess, with selection expected to be experimental so close to the World T20.
Australia
The big news in the Australian camp is the that they have decided the send Mitchell Johnson home to rest after a demanding recent spell on the Test circuit. He’ll meet up with the rest of the squad in Bangladesh, but will take no part in the rest of the South African tour. George Bailey arrives to captain the side and will be a key wicket for the Proteas to take in the middle-order, the Australian generally looking to bat deep into any innings. Finch and Warner are likely to open and both pack a tremendous punch; don’t claim their wickets early and Australia will most certainly be off to flyer and difficult to contain. Australia have options in the middle-order, with Cameron White, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell and Dan Christian all handy finishers on their day. James Faulkner has single-handedly won matches for Australia in both ODIs and T20s and no match will be over until his wicket has been taken. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Coulter-Nile will most likely lead the attack, with the part-time seamers and spinners playing a role. Young leg-spinner James Muirhead may also make an appearance, Australia still searching for the Warne successor.
Venue
With weather being the deciding factor in PE, the prospect of playing in Durban’s unpredictable climate does not bode well. It has been raining for almost a week already on the East Coast; as I update this article a heavy drizzle from outside catches my skin from the open window. There is an 80% chance of rain all day on Wednesday so there is almost no hope of a full match being played.
BEST: Top Australian Batsman, David Warner 26/10
Priced up as favourite, Warner has been in magnificent form with the bat in the Test arena and will be pleased to be back playing his natural game in the T20 format. Not much seems to worry him at the moment. Another big score looms on the horizon.
VERDICT: Australia 7/10
Although I like the balance of the Proteas side, I feel the Australians possess too much firepower throughout their middle-order. South Africa tend to be too cautious for T20 cricket; they are often bogged down. With rain likely to hamper proceedings, it may also lead to an even shorter match, one that will favour the Australians if it occurs. Back the Aussies to ride their momentum.
