Lions vs Knights, Momentum One Day Cup 2020, Today Match Prediction 26 Feb 2020

lions vs kng Match Prediction & Analysis

We are halfway through this Momentum One Day Cup 2020 and Lions and Knights are at opposite ends of the points table. The Lions are flying high and are currently second with 14 points from four games (three wins, including two bonus-points and one loss) while Knights won their first game of the season only in their last game which was against Cape Cobras.

The Lions started off this tournament with back to back wins over Titans and Cape Cobras as they got big scores and defended them well. However, it was the Warriors who handed them their first defeat as the batting failed. However, they hunted down 305 in their last game against Cape Cobras and held their nerve to eke out a one-wicket win.

On the other hand, the Knights lost their first three games and each of them by big margins. Their batting just didn’t come to the party. However, a rained off game against the Warriors saw them get first points before they downed Cape Cobras in a rain-affected game as they chased down 258 inside 36 overs (the match was reduced to 42 overs). Hence, they will have some confidence going into this game against the Lions.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Lions Preview

The Lions batting line-up has delivered the goods in three out of the four games. Ryan Rickelton has led the charge at the top of the order. The 23-year-old opener has scored 324 runs which include a ton and a half-century. Moreover, he has a strike-rate of 100.30 and he averages 81.00. Dominic Hendricks will most likely replace Reeza Hendricks at the top after the latter was called up in the South African T20 side for the remaining two games against Australia.

Nicky van den Bergh, Wihan Lubbe and Delano Potgieter have been decent in the middle order and have got runs. Each of them has got a fifty in at least one game and have lent solidity to the batting line-up. With the ball, skipper Aaron Phangiso has led from the front.

The left-arm spinner has picked up eight wickets from four games and has an economy of 4.86. The likes of Johannes Diseko and Eldred Hawken have been good. The former has picked up four wickets in three games while Hawken has five wickets from four games. Hence, Lions are looking for a balanced side.

Lions Predicted Playing XI:

Ryan Rickelton, Dominic Hendricks, Kagiso Rapulana, Nicky van den Bergh (wk), Wihan Lubbe, Delano Potgieter, Nono Pongolo, Johannes Diseko, Eldred Hawken, Aaron Phangiso (c), Malusi Siboto

Lions Actual Playing XI:

Aaron Phangiso, Ryan Rickelton, Dominic Hendricks, NJ Van den Bergh, Wihan Lubbe, B Hendricks, Bjorn Fortuin, Delano Potgieter, Eldred Hawken, Kagiso Rapulana, MP Siboto

Knights Preview

The Knights batting hasn’t really fired in this tournament. They failed to go past 175 on three successive instances. However, they did chase down 258 in the last game and it was on the back of a fine ton from Jacques Snyman. He scored a scintillating 124 and had skipper and wicket-keeper batsman Wandile Makwetu in the company who scored 45. Makwetu has looked in good form too and is the only Knights batsman who has looked comfortable in every game.

The Knights will expect the other like Keegan Petersen and Raynard van Tonder to step up. The bowling has been good and they’ve delivered as a unit. Shaun von Berg is leading the wickets tally for the Knights with six wickets. On the other hand, Tshepo Ntuli and Mbulelo Budaza have five wickets apiece and they’ve bowled well. Hence, Knights seem to have their bowling sorted and it’s just the batting that needs to fire consistently.

Knights Predicted Playing XI:

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

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

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg generally produces some good batting tracks in white-ball cricket. The ball is expected to come on to the bat nicely and the batters can play through the line. It is going to be slightly cloudy in Johannesburg but there is no chance of rain. The temperatures will range between 22 and 26 degrees.

Venue Details

This is the first match of the season at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. It is scheduled to host three Momentum One-Day Cup games this year. It is the home ground for the Lions. A total of five Test matches, six ODIs and eight T20Is have been played at this venue.

Toss: To Bowl

Captains have preferred to chase at the New Wanderers Stadium in white-ball cricket. However, the Lions have done really well batting first while the Knights won their only game chasing. Hence, it may be a tricky call for both teams. Both of them might want to field first, given that this is the first game of the season at this venue.