Knights vs Cape Cobras, Momentum One Day Cup 2020, Today Match Prediction 22 Feb 2020

kng vs cobras Match Prediction & Analysis

These are two teams that haven't really found their feet yet in this 2020 season of the Momentum One Day Cup. Both Knights and Cape Cobras have struggled for the most part of this tournament.

Knights finally got off the mark on the points table as their game against Warriors was abandoned due to rain. Because of the washout, they got two points and are lying at the bottom of the table. They’ve lost all their other three games as well and all of them were comprehensive defeats. They failed to chase down targets of 210 and 221 in the first two games before crumbling and crashing to 134 all out in the third game. 

Cape Cobras started the tournament decently. They had two wins from the first three games. However, since then, the campaign has been derailed. They’ve now lost three matches in a row and the last one was where they weren’t able to hunt down 184 against the table-toppers Dolphins. They will be looking to get back on track and build some sort of momentum.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Knights Preview

The Knights batting line-up just hasn’t come to the party. Their three scores so far in this tournament are – 115, 164 and 134. Skipper Wandile Makwetu has got a start in all the games so far. He’s made scores of 29, 35 and 21 and has been decent behind the stumps as well. The likes of Raynard van Tonder, Jacques Snyman and Keegan Petersen who bat in the top three have got a start in an odd game but there’s been no consistency and neither has anyone threatened to score big either.

Hence, it’s high time the Knights batting department steps up and delivers. The bowling has been the better of the two suits. There are a couple of players who have done well and picked wickets regularly. Shaun von Berg and Tshepo Ntuli have picked up five wickets each so far. They have an economy of under 5 and are striking once every 27-28 deliveries as well. Shadley van Schalkwyk has done well too and has four wickets to his name in this tournament.

Knights Predicted Playing XI:

Raynard van Tonder, Jacques Snyman, Keegan Petersen, Andries Gous, Obus Pienaar, Wandile Makwetu (c & wk), Shaun von Berg, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Tshepo Ntuli, Ottniel Baartman, Mbulelo Budaza

Knights Actual Playing XI:

AGS Gous, Ottneil Baartman, Shaun von Berg, T Ntuli, Keegan Petersen, Wandile Makwetu, Raynard van Tonder, Obus Pienaar, Mbulelo Budaza, Jacques Snyman, Patrick Kruger

Cape Cobras Preview

Skipper Zubayr Hamza has led the Cape Cobras batting line-up from the front. He’s been in phenomenal form and has amassed 461 runs at an average of 76.83 in six innings and has registered two hundred and as many half-centuries. Pieter Malan has also been good at the top of the order. He’s scored 255 runs at an average of 42.50. However, the form of Janneman Malan might be slightly concerning as he’s had three successive low scores.

Meanwhile, the likes of George Linde and Aviwe Mgijima have been very good with the bat in the middle order. They’ve chipped in beautifully and have scored runs at a fair clip as well. Linde has bowled well too. The left-arm spinner has picked up six wickets in as many games.

It’s Thando Ntini who has been leading the charge with the ball. He has been brilliant in this tournament and has taken 12 wickets so far. He has a strike-rate of 25.5 with the ball. Rory Kleinveldt has done decently too and has complemented Ntini well as he’s picked up seven wickets. Meanwhile, Dane Paterson has blown hot and cold.

Cape Cobras Predicted Playing XI:

Janneman Malan, Pieter Malan, Zubayr Hamza (c), Jonathan Bird, Kyle Verreynne (wk), George Linde, Aviwe Mgijima, Rory Kleinveldt, Thando Ntini, Dane Paterson, Akhona Mnyaka

Cape Cobras Actual Playing XI:

Thando Ntini, George Linde, Zubayr Hamza, Jonathan Bird, Rory Kleinveldt, Dane Paterson, Janneman Malan, Akhona Mnyaka, Pieter Malan, Aviwe Mgijima, Kyle Verreynne

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

There is quite a bit of rain on the radar in Kimberley. There’s about 80% chance of rain on the day of the game with scattered thunderstorms being predicted for most part of the game. The pitch might be a decent one to bat on but with the rain around the pitch might be slightly tacky and the ball might do a bit as well.

Venue Details

The Diamond Oval in Kimberley is hosting it’s first game of this Momentum One-Day and it will host just one other game. It is the home ground for the Knights. There is some international cricket that is also played here but the last game that was played here was back in September 2018

Toss: To Bowl

The record at the Diamond Oval in Kimberley is stacked heavily against the team batting first. Usually, teams chasing have won more often and hence, both teams might want to do the same. The rain around will also have an influence and will likely convince both teams to bowl first.