It will be a shootout for a place in the tri-series final when West Indies and South Africa meet in the last league game at the Kensington Oval on Friday for a date with Australia in the title clash. “I wasn’t thinking about a lot, I wasn’t thinking about the outcome because as soon as you start thinking about the outcome you are not going to execute the way you want”.
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The Proteas though, can actually go to the top of the table with a win here, not that it will make any difference unless the final is rained out. After the first ball, the pressure was on them, in the last over there was no pressure because we were expecting to lose the game. Although the next fifty-over trophy is next year’s Champions Trophy, it is important for South African to show that they are improving by racking up wins.
The Windies won the series opener over South Africa by four wickets, before Tahir ripped through them in the second meeting. “They look like they are heading in the right direction”. “Nevertheless, We need to step up against South Africa on Friday”, he said.
West Indies Women’s head coach, Vasbert Drakes, believes the regional side can continue to dominate World cricket for a long time, once the core of the current squad is kept together. “The first 15 to 20 overs are going to be crucial – setting the platform leading into the game”.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to prove that we are that kind of team under pressure”.
South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi.
If the middle order fires, it could amount to a ideal batting performance, but South Africa will have to still find a way past Marlon Samuels, who leads the tournament’s run-charts. Morne Morkel is expected to be included in the South Africa XI to take advantage of those conditions.
Samuels’ century meant he has now scored centuries against all full ICC members and he has his eyes set on South Africa.
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In theory, South Africa should be favourites but West Indies have already beaten both opponents in this tournament and are mounting a resurrection of their own.
