Following South Africa’s 0-3 series defeat against hosts India in the 3-match One-Day International (ODI) series and a 10-wicket defeat in the one-off Test, the focus shifts to the shortest format with the 1st of 3 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) scheduled for the 5th of July 2024. The game will be held at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, and commences at 7:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Squads:
India – Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha, Uma Chetry (WK), Richa Ghosh (WK), Jemimah Rodrigues, Sajana Sajeevan, Deepti Sharma, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Asha Sobhana, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Shabnam Shakil
South Africa – Laura Wolvaardt (C), Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Mieke de Ridder, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon
Players to watch out:
Shafali Verma
The 20-year-old opening batter, from 73 T20Is, has amassed 1703 runs, including the highest of 73, at a strike rate of 129.90, and also has 10 wickets to her name from 17 innings, at an economy rate of 5.96. Following a quiet start to this series, where she struggled to get going in the ODIs with scores of 7, 20, and 25, she notched up scores of 205 and 24* in the one-off Test and hopefully replicates this success in the white-ball format.
Radha Yadav
The 24-year-old left-arm off-spinner, from 69 T20I innings, has scalped 78 wickets, including the best of 4/23, at an economy rate of 6.49, and can also be handy with the bat. Radha bagged 10 wickets from 5 outings in her most recent T20I campaign, on return to the national team following an exceptional domestic season, and though she didn’t find much success in the ODIs this series, she’ll be backed to find her best with the ball in the T20Is.
Marizanne Kapp
The 34-year-old all-rounder in T20Is, from 86 innings, has accumulated 1431 runs and from 91 bowling outings has picked up 81 wickets, registering bests of 4/6 and 75. Marizanne has been in good form of late, and in this series, she registered a best of 114 in the ODIs and an aggregate of 105 in the Test. Her scores from the previous 4 T20Is read 75, 60, 44, and 8, and she is also likely to bowl in the T20Is. She can be counted on for all-round efforts.
Chloe Tryon
The 30-year-old all-rounder, striking at 136.77, has added 1112 runs to her tally from 77 T20I outings, and at an economy rate of 6.83, she has struck 33 wickets from 63 innings, with bests of 57* and 4/15. In her previous 3 T20Is, Chloe returned figures of 1/23, 1/18, and 1/14, and scored 26 runs in the only game she was needed to step up. Declared fit, Chloe is set for her first game on this tour, and her contributions will be vital to the team’s success.
Pitch:
The center wicket at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium is relatively balanced, with an average score in the 140s. While conditions are conducive to batting, the wicket also offers assistance to bowlers, especially spinners, who will play a dominant role in the game.
Weather:
With showers on the radar later in the day, there is a high potential for the game to be abandoned if the skies don’t clear. The temperature is expected to be around 29°C, with light winds and a humidity level of 72%.
Fantasy playing XI:
Richa Ghosh, Laura Wolvaardt, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Marizanne Kapp, Deepti Sharma, Nadine de Klerk, Chloé Tryon, Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil
Match details:
Date – July 05, 2024
Time – 7:00 PM IST
Venue – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Broadcast – The game will be live streamed on the JioCinema app and website and broadcasted on Sports18.
