South Africa vs England, South Africa vs England 2019, Today Match Prediction 12 Feb 2020

sa vs eng Match Prediction & Analysis

Host South Africa will be keen to draw first blood when they take on England in the opening game of T20I series at Buffalo Park in East London on Wednesday.

South Africa Captain Quinton de Kock will be pleased with his side’s performances in the three-match one-day series. The home side will be looking to keep their momentum going in this three-match T20I series.

On the other hand, England got their combinations right to level the three-match one-day series. Skipper Eoin Morgan will be hoping that the side can put in clinical performance with bat and ball in this opening fixture. In the previous four meetings between the two teams in the T20 cricket, England has come out on top on three occasions.

TEAMS PREVIEW

South Africa Preview

Veteran pacer Dale Steyn, uncapped players Sisanda Magala and Pite vsn Biljon have been selected for the three-match T20I series against England. Dale Steyn return to the T20 squad will bolster the bowling resources for South Africa, while wicket-keeper Pite van Biljon has earned his maiden call-up due to his spectacular performances in the domestic circuit.

For this opening game, the side will be depending on the likes of Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen to do the bulk of the scoring. Surprisingly, opener Reeza Hendricks has topped the batting charts for South Africa in the past 12 months. He has accumulated 421 runs in 13 innings at an average of 32.28 with four half-centuries to his name.

Captain Quinton de Kock led from the front with the bat in the one-day series. Left-hander has shown splendid form with the bat this season and finished leading run-scorer for South Africa in one-day series with 167 runs at an average of 62.33. Besides de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma and David Miller have the ability to win games of cricket for South Africa. Middle-order batsman Rassie van der Dussen has done well in the T20 format as well. He has scored 254 runs in 9 matches with two half-centuries to his name.

In the bowling department, the side will be relying on Dale Steyn, Beuran Hendricks and Tabraiz Shamsi to provide crucial breakthroughs. Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo might be rested for this opening fixture.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

Quinton de Kock (captain &wk), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, JJ Smuts, Dwaine Pretorius, Dale Steyn, Beuran Hendricks, Tabraiz Shamsi, Bjorn Fortuin.

South Africa Actual Playing XI:

Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi, DW Steyn, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, JJ Smuts, B Hendricks, Temba Bavuma

England Preview

On the other hand, England will be relieved after they managed to level the one-day series at The Wanderers on Sunday. All-rounder Ben Stokes, wicket-keeper Jos Buttler and pacer Mark Wood will bolster the batting and bowling resources for England. The visitors will be looking to field their full-strength side for this opening game in order to make adequate preparations for the coming T20 World Cup.

In the batting department, the onus will be on the likes of Jason Roy, Eoin Morgan and Jonny Bairstow to deliver the bulk of the runs. England Captain Eoin Morgan has done exceedingly well in the T20 format. Since Jan 2018, Morgan has topped the batting charts for England in the T20 format. Left-hander has accumulated 404 runs in 15 matches with three half-centuries to his name.

Joe Denly is expected to keep his place in the playing XI for this opening game of the T20I series. He played exceedingly well in the one-day series and finished as leading run-scorer for England with 153 runs in 2 matches at an average of 76.50. Dawid Malan is expected to replace Joe Root, who has not been picked for the three-match T20I series. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler might also come into the playing XI for this game.

In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the likes of Saqib Mahmood, Tom Curran and Chris Jordan to make breakthroughs in his game. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid will be two spinners for this game as well.

England Predicted Playing XI:

Eoin Morgan (captain), Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Joe Denly, Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood/Tom Curran, Chris Jordan.

England Actual Playing XI:

Chris Jordan, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Denly, Jos Buttler, Jason Roy, Mark Wood, AU Rashid, Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Tom Curran, Ben Stokes

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The wicket prepared for the game for opening game will be decent for batting. Expect spinners to get some assistance off the pitch. The weather is expected to be fair for the game.

Venue Details

Buffalo Park in East London is going to host the opening game of the T20I series between South Africa and England. The home side has won one game of two played at this venue. Last time, South Africa registered a comfortable win over Zimbabwe, courtesy splendid performances from Rassie van der Dussen and Imran Tahir.

Toss: To Bat

Both the teams would be looking to win the toss and bat first on this surface. The average score at this venue is around 160 runs.