In the Twenty20 International (T20I) opener of the 3-match series, South Africa managed their first win on this tour of India following a 0-3 defeat in the One-Day International (ODI) series and in the one-off Test. The 2nd T20I, a must-win for the hosts, will be played at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on the 7th of July 2024, 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, Ayabonga Khaka, Mieke de Ridder, Sinalo Jafta, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Suné Luus, Eliz-Mari Marx, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloé Tryon
Players to watch out:
Jemimah Rodrigues
The 23-year-old top-order batter, from 83 T20I innings, has amassed 1997 runs, including the highest of 76, at an average of 30.25 and a strike rate of 112.95. Jemimah has managed a few runs in this series, and while she didn’t score many runs in her most recent T20I campaigns, in the T20I opener this series she notched up a solid 53*. She could have another good knock around the corner.
Pooja Vastrakar
The 24-year-old all-rounder, from 58 T20I outings, has claimed 47 wickets, including the best of 4/17, maintaining an economy rate of 6.26, and from 39 innings, she has chipped in with 310 runs. In this series, Pooja was required with the bat on only one occasion, scoring 31*, and has consistently been amongst the wickets. In the T20I opener, she produced figures of 2/23, and she can be relied upon to deliver the goods.
Tazmin Brits
The 33-year-old opening batter, striking at 106.84 and averaging 31.20, has racked up 1248 runs from 49 T20Is and registered a highest score of 81 in her most recent outing. Tazmin in the ODIs earlier this series, registered scores of 18, 5, and 38, and building on her starts, she notched up an excellent 81 in the T20I opener. It’s expected that she capitalizes on this return to form, following up with another big score.
Ayabonga Khaka
The 31-year-old pacer, from 59 T20I innings, has scalped 50 wickets, including the best of 4/23, maintaining an economy rate of 6.68. Ayabonga is an experienced campaigner and surpassed 130 ODI wickets during this series, returning figures of 3/47, 0/51, and 1/38, showing economy and effectiveness. Her figures from the T20I opener read 1/39, and it is hoped she keeps her economy rate in check.
Pitch:
The 22 yards at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium provides a somewhat neutral playing field, but the conditions slightly favor batters over bowlers. Spinners, in particular, benefit from the conditions, and a score in the 170s can be deemed competitive on this wicket.
Weather:
With cloudy overhead and scattered thunderstorms on the radar, the chances of a complete game are minimal if the skies don’t clear. The temperature is forecasted to hover around 29°C with 70% humidity.
Fantasy playing XI:
Richa Ghosh, Laura Wolvaardt, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Deepti Sharma, Nadine de Klerk, Pooja Vastrakar, Chloé Tryon, Radha Yadav
Match details:
Date – July 07, 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.
