Lions vs Warriors, CSA T20 Challenge 2019, Today Match Prediction 24 Apr 2019

lions vs warriors Match Prediction & Analysis

The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg shall host the 24th game of the CSA T20 Challenge where Lions would be up against the Warriors. The Lions have played well this season and currently, sit on the top in the points table. Warriors, on the other hand, have seen four of their games being washed away and are still in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals. 

Though Warriors enjoy a good record against the Lions they haven’t been in the best of the form this season. It is expected to be a well-contested game as there is little to separate between the two sides. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Lions Preview

Their last game against the Dolphins has washed away which makes it two in a row for the side. This will upset Temba Bavuma a bit as the team was in great momentum having won three back to back games. He would like to win the next one as this will assure them a place in the semi-finals of the season. 

The batting line-up looks extremely strong for the side. They have the best Top 3 in the tournament with Rassie van der Dussen, Reeza Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton having shown good form with the bat in previous games. The side also has a handy middle order where Dwaine Pretorius, Temba Bavuma and Wiaan Mulder have the ability to score runs quickly as they have shown in the earlier games. 

It is their bowling attack that has been winning games for the side with Aaron Phangiso and Bjorn Fortuin being among the leading wicket-takers. They have troubled batsmen in most of the games and would be looking to do the same in the next game. If there is good support from Dwaine Pretorius and Migael Pretorius they would be tough to score against. 

Lions Predicted Playing XI:

Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Wiaan Mulder, Dwaine Pretorius, Nono Pongolo, Bjorn Fortuin, Migael Pretorius, Aaron Phangiso, Malusi Siboto

Lions Actual Playing XI:

Nono Pongolo, Aaron Phangiso, Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton, Dwaine Pretorius, Wihan Lubbe, Bjorn Fortuin, Rassie van der Dussen, Migael Pretorius, Temba Bavuma, MP Siboto

Warriors Preview

No team likes seeing four of their games being washed away due to rain and it would be natural for JJ Smuts and his men to feel frustrated at this stage. Not a single ball was bowled in their last game against the Titans. The side would hope for a full game and want to win it against the Lions. 

In their last win against the Cape Cobras Marco Marais had played a match-winning knock and found good support from Sisanda Magala and Onke Nyaku. The top order is yet to fire this season which is a cause of worry for the side. They have good batsmen in JJ Smuts, Matthew Breetzke and Sinethemba Qeshile. These three will need to do well in the next game if they are to win against the Lions. 

Apart from Sisanda Magala and JJ Smuts other bowlers are struggling and this is a concern for the side in the most crucial phase of the league stage. Lutho Sipamla and Andrew Birch who were expected to lead the bowling attack haven’t delivered yet in the tournament and the skipper would want them to regain form for the upcoming game. 

Warriors Predicted Playing XI:

Gihahn Cloete, Matthew Breetzke, JJ Smuts (c), Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), Marco Marais, Onke Nyaku, Thomas Kaber, Andrew Birch, Jade de Klerk, Lutho Sipamla, Sisanda Magala

Warriors Actual Playing XI:

Andrew Birch, Sithembile Langa, JJ Smuts, SSB Magala, Onke Nyaku, Sinethemba Qeshile, Lutho Sipamla, Marco Marais, Matthew Breetzke, Gihahn Cloete, Jade de Klerk

Weather Conditions

It is expected to be clear skies with slight cloud cover at Johannesburg on April 24 and this would make the fans happy. The pitch has always been a good one for batting and isn’t likely to be different for this game. The side batting first should be eyeing a score in excess of 170 runs at this ground.  

Venue

The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg is the best batting wicket in South Africa. The fast outfield only complements this and batsmen have always enjoyed batting here. The margin of error for the bowlers is very thin here and most of the T20 games here have been high scoring encounters. 

Toss: To Bat

There won’t be an iota of doubt in the mind of the captain to win the toss and bat first here in this ground. They will be aiming to set a huge score for the opposition to chase. The pitch isn’t likely to change in the second innings as well so batting second isn’t a disadvantage either.