Knights vs Warriors, Momentum One Day Cup, Today Match Prediction 22 Feb 2019

kng vs warriors Match Prediction & Analysis

The 9th game of the Momentum One Day Cup 2019 will see Warriors a team that is in good form taking on the Knights.

The Knights so far have had a bad season and are yet to register a win and the two points that they have earned has been due to a match being washed way. Warriors on the other hand are undefeated in the season and would go into this game with confidence. Warriors haven’t lost a game against the Knights in the last two seasons and it remains to be seen if the Knights come up with a better performance in the next game to restore some of their lost pride. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Knights Preview

Petrus van Biljon would be a worried man given the performance his side has put up so far in the season. They lost to Titans in the first game and saw their game against Lions washed out. The last game’s loss against Cape Cobras has put them in a tight spot. 

The batting looks good and in the last game everyone in the top order contributed with Andries Gous, Keegan Petersen and Ryan McLaren all getting fifties but their inability to turn it into a big score cost the side dearly. Patrick Kruger though gave the side a perfect finish in the last game. 

After the horrible performance in the last game the bowling attack looked better in the last game. Marchant de Lange, Jacques Snyman and Shadley van Schalkwyk their main bowlers did well but lack of support from the other bowlers cost them the game. They will need to put up a stronger show against the Warriors who look to be in great form at the moment.

Knights Predicted Playing XI:

Grant Mokoena, Andries Gous (wk), Keegan Petersen, Petrus van Biljon (c), Patrick Kruger, Jacques Snyman, Ryan McLaren, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Marchant de Lange, Eddie Leie, Mbulelo Budaza.

Warriors Preview

JJ Smuts the Warriors skipper would be proud of the effort of his side so far in the season. They won the first game against the Cape Cobras and while their next game against the Lions was washed out. 

Matthew Breetzke and Gihahn Cloete their openers batted well against the Cape Cobras and the latter made a brilliant hundred in that game. Sinethemba Qeshile too played well for his fifty. However the rest of the batsmen didn't impress and in the next game Yaseen Vallie and skipper JJ Smuts will need to do well for the side to win the game. 

Bowlers impressed in the first game especially Lutho Sipamla who used all his experience in the game. Andrew Birch and Sisanda Magala also did well with the new ball and Smuts along with Onke Nyaku bowled economically and they would look to repeat the same show in the next game.

Warriors Predicted Playing XI:

JJ Smuts (c), Andrew Birch, Gihahn Cloete, Yaseen Vallie, Christiaan Jonker, Sisanda Magala, Lutho Sipamla, Thomas Kaber, Matthew Breetzke, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Onke Nyaku.

Weather Conditions

There are predictions for overcast conditions at Kimberly on the 22nd of February. With the spell of rain that we have seen in the last few days the pitch is expected to be slightly damp where batting would be difficult. Anything around the 270 run mark would be a fighting total on this ground and fast bowlers are likely to enjoy bowling on this wicket. 

Venue

Diamond Oval, Kimberley has been a great hunting ground for the fast bowlers with the average first innings score of 223 runs which shows the kind of dominance bowlers have enjoyed on this surface. Batsmen who build an innings have done well at this ground. Spinners haven’t got great bargain out of this pitch historically.

Toss: To Bowl

Rain has played spoilsport in at least two games so far and the weather forecast having prediction for rain will make it easy for the side chasing if we see reduced number of overs. Also there is dampness in the surface which may assist early moment and hence the side winning the toss would elect to field first.