Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
Further domination.
India put a complete performance in the 1st T20I to consign the hosts to yet another defeat. Since the second Test in Centurion, where South Africa wrapped up the Test series, India won the third Test, thrashed the hosts 5-1 in the ODIs, and then won the first T20I well. Remind me who is the home team again?
Led by Shikhar Dhawan, India batted beautifully, nailing over 200 in Johannesburg, and their fans would have been really happy to see some good middle order contributions as well. South Africa will have to find some way to contain the India batting line up, and need to take heart from the fact they managed over 170 against a good Indian bowling attack, even with Bhuvneshwar Kumar taking five wickets.
Key to a South Africa win
Higher chance of snow falling in Centurion than this happening?
Higher chance of everyone suddenly falling in love with Donald Trump?
In all seriousness, the inexperienced bowling attack for South Africa needs to hold up as best they can against a strong, experienced India line up. They have to find a way to keep the Indians quiet, and
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if they manage to do that, the batsmen must be in the runs. The short ball didn’t work in Johannesburg – the key would be to bowl really tight lines and lengths, and limit the boundaries.
To win this, South Africa need everything to go their way, and put in the near perfect batting, bowling and fielding performance, whilst hoping India have a bit of an off day.
Key to an India win
Ruthlessness.
India have South Africa on the mat, and the key to victory is keeping the foot on the throat. Most teams in the world would trade their top order for India’s top four of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli. India’s batting line up is experienced and knowledgeable enough to know that letting South Africa’s bowlers settle at all would give their opposition hope of being competitive.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar then led a solid Indian bowling attack, where South Africa simply were never in the running to chase down 204. More of the same will be the order of the day, and then India could look to experiment with their squad in the third T20I if indeed it is a dead rubber.
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| Both these two were superb in the first T20I |
Predicted teams:
South Africa desperately need more from the JP Duminy and David Miller, their most experienced players, to support the likes of Reeza Hendricks, who played well in the first T20I. Also, Chris Morris has been very quiet in the limited overs games v India, and South Africa need him to have a big one with the series on the line. Also, all of South Africa’s efforts with spin haven’t worked in th ODIs and T20I, which could see Aaron Phangiso come into the side.
South Africa XI: 1. Reeza Hendricks, 2. Jon-Jon Smuts, 3. JP Duminy (c), 4. David Miller, 5. Farhaan Behardien, 6. Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 7. Andile Phehlukwayo, 8. Chris Morris, 9 Dane Paterson, 10. Junior Dala, 11. Aaron Phangiso
India, on paper, look so much stronger than South Africa, and will look to seal the series with the same team before any experimentation. Suresh Raina will have another chance to cement his place in this team, and also get the Indian selectors thinking about a possible place even in the ODI side.
India XI: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Suresh Raina, 4. Virat Kohli (c), 5. Manish Pandey, 6. MS Dhoni (wk), 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9. Jaydev Unadkat, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal
Stats & Facts:
- India have only ever lost one T20I v South Africa in South Africa – March 2012 in Johannesburg.
- India thrashed South Africa twice at Centurion in the ODI series – by nine and eight wickets respectively (2nd and 6th ODIs).
- Virat Kohli needs 130 runs in the remaining two T20I games to reach 1,000 runs for the tour.
- India have won their last five T20Is. South Africa have won three.
Prediction:
The forecast says there is an 80% chance of afternoon thundershowers, which could potentially see a shortened game. No doubt, the shorter the game, the better chance South Africa have of causing an upset.
However, India look superior in all departments, and will produce another professional display under the ruthless Virat Kohli to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead. The top order will set the platform, and I pick Rohit Sharma to win the Man of the Match award, with a strong performance from the great Virat Kohli.
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