Last Updated on 2 weeks by Charbel Coorey
T20 WC 2021 Match 18: SA vs WI Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SA vs WI Dream11 Prediction Today | South Africa vs West Indies Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report
Knowing West Indies, they could come out today and smash 200+ after getting rolled for 55 in embarrassing fashion against England. Or, they could get rolled again against a South Africa side who bowled superbly in the quest to defend just 118 against Australia.
Who knows. And that is what makes this contest today a fascinating one.
Two first up losing teams go head-to-head in a crunch match in the Dubai heat. And, the question will be which of these two sides, who both have strong aspirations of making the Semi Finals, will better handle both the figurative and literal heat? West Indies will be after significant batting improvement, but one can be sure that they will go hard once again. South Africa will also be looking for improvement after a struggle against Australia, but it remains to be seen if they will play with such freedom.
The Proteas beat West Indies in the Caribbean earlier this year. Tabraiz Shamsi and Quinton de Kock led the way in a 3-2 series victory. One feels that those two will be key again, with others required to provide meaningful contributions along the way.
Key Players to Watch/Key Stats
South Africa:
- Quinton de Kock was the highest run-scorer in the five-match series between the teams earlier in 2021. The left-hander struck three half-centuries in the five matches, totaling 255 runs at an average of 51.00 and strike rate of 141.66.
- de Kock also has a solid record at Dubai. In 10 matches on this ground, the keeper-batsman has struck 320 runs at an average of 35.56 and strike rate of 130.61.
- Aiden Markram is having a great year in T20Is. The classy right-hander, who was easily South Africa’s top scorer vs Australia (40), has smashed 448 runs in 2021 at an average of 40.72 and strike rate of 145.45. This includes 113 runs in three matches against West Indies (HS 70).
- Rassie van der Dussen will be key to South Africa’s hopes. He scored a brilliant century vs Pakistan in the warm ups, so the Proteas will be hoping he displays some of that form here. He had a modest tour of West Indies earlier in the year: 5 inns, 97 runs, avg. 24.25, SR 129.33, HS 56*.
- Tabraiz Shamsi was player of the series against West Indies in the Caribbean. The world’s number one T20I spinner took seven wickets in the five matches at an extraordinary economy rate of four runs per over. He is coming off an impressive spell vs Australia where he took 1/22.
- Anrich Nortje is in fine form. The fast bowler is cranking up the pace, taking at least one wicket in each of his last nine T20 matches, including 2/21 last match vs Australia.
- Nortje has four wickets in four matches vs West Indies (avg. 24, econ. 7) and 17 scalps in 12 matches at Dubai.
- Kagiso Rabada showed signs of his best form against Australia (1/28). He was expensive against West Indies earlier this year (econ. 9.44), but he took seven wickets in five matches, indicating his wicket-taking ability. Also, he has 16 wickets in 13 T20s at Dubai.
West Indies:
- No player has more runs in WI-SA matches than Chris Gayle. The Universe Boss has smashed 363 runs in 11 matches vs the Proteas at an average of 36.30 and strike rate of 177.94.
- However, he clearly struggles at number three, so the Windies will be better served opening with him. Gayle scored just the 56 runs in four matches against South Africa earlier this year at an average of 18.66 and strike rate of 119.14.
- Evin Lewis was brilliant against the Proteas a few months ago. The opener was the Windies’ highest scorer in that series with 178 runs in five matches at an average of 35.60 and superb strike rate of 160.36.
- Lewis made scores of 36, 6 and 58 at Dubai in the recent IPL, part of 151 runs in the UAE leg at an average of 30.50 and strike rate of 162.36.
- Roston Chase could come in to provide the Windies with some stability. He scored a half-century against Afghanistan in the warm up, but it was a big struggle (54* off 58 balls). Chase was outstanding in CPL, with the most runs of any player (446, avg. 49.55, SR 144.33).
- Shimron Hetmyer will be key to the Windies’ hopes. He is coming off a very solid IPL campaign with Delhi Capitals, where he scored 242 runs at an average of 34.57 and strike rate of 168.05.
- However, Hetmyer has a modest record at Dubai (12 inns, 163 runs, avg. 20.38, SR 125.38) and had a relatively quiet series against the Proteas earlier this year (57 runs, avg. 19.00, SR 107.54).
- Watch out for Akeal Hosein. He gives the ball a big rip, and was impressive against England in the last match (2/24). South Africa struggled against spin vs Australia, so Hosein will be key.
- Dwayne Bravo took the most wickets in the WI-SA series earlier this year (10 wickets, avg. 13.10, SR 11.4). Obed McCoy was close behind with nine wickets at an average/strike rate of 15.66/13.3.
Stats and Facts
- Head-to-head: Matches 15, South Africa 9, West Indies 6.
- Can Andre Russell influence this match? He has a poor record vs South Africa (9 inns, 98 runs, avg. 12.25), and the Windies need him to turn those numbers around.
- Kieron Pollard enjoys batting at Dubai in T20s: 30 matches, 589 runs, avg. 31.00, SR 155.82.
- Ravi Rampaul took 19 wickets in 10 matches in the recent CPL. He was in the wickets vs England too, dismissing Jason Roy.
- David Miller averages just 19.63 in nine T20Is vs West Indies. It’s a key match for the experienced South African batsman.
- South Africa have won two out of three matches vs West Indies in T20 World Cups.
Possible Playing 11
South Africa could look at bringing in Lungi Ngidi instead of the all-rounder option.
South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Temba Bavuma (c), 3. Aiden Markram, 4. Rassie van der Dussen, 5. David Miller, 6. Heinrich Klaasen, 7. Dwaine Pretorius/Lungi Ngidi, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Keshav Maharaj, 10. Anrich Nortje, 11. Tabraiz Shamsi
Windies coach Ottis Gibson did hint that Roston Chase would bring balance to this side. If Windies do pick Chase and Chris Gayle, this will then allow them to play Gayle at opener. However, Lendl Simmons does have a decent record vs South Africa: 5 inns, 198 runs, avg. 39.60, SR 138.46.
West Indies: 1. Lendl Simmons/Chris Gayle, 2. Evin Lewis, 3. Roston Chase, 4. Shimron Hetmyer, 5. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6. Kieron Pollard (c), 7. Andre Russell, 8. Dwayne Bravo, 9. Akeal Hosein, 10. Obed McCoy, 11. Ravi Rampaul
Dubai Pitch Report and Weather
West Indies were rolled for 55 on this ground, but it was by no means a bad batting pitch. Pakistan proved this with a superb run chase against India where they chased down 152 with 13 deliveries and 10 wickets to spare.
The average first innings score in the recent IPL was 156.23, with CSK chasing 173 and then posting 192 themselves in the crunch matches.
Teams batting second have won 11 of the last 15 matches on this ground. But, there will be no dew issue today as this is a day game. A warm and clear day is forecast.
Dream11 Prediction
Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.
Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction
Base team:
- Wicket-keepers: Quinton de Kock
- Batsmen: Evin Lewis, Aiden Markram
- All-rounders: Dwayne Bravo
- Bowlers: Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Akeal Hosein
Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?
Match Prediction
Toss of the coin match. Teams have a great record chasing, so the team batting first will need around 160-170 at least to be competitive in such an unpredictable match. West Indies, with their great firepower, have greater potential to make big scores.