Titans vs Knights, CSA T20 Challenge 2019, Today Match Prediction 26 Apr 2019

tit vs kng Match Prediction & Analysis

It is the 27th game of the CSA T20 Challenge 2019 and Titans would be playing at their home ground SuperSport Park, Centurion where they take on the Knights. The home side hasn’t had the best of season as they have managed to win only two games and come into this one having lost the last one against the Cape Cobras. Knights, on the other hand, have had even worst season and haven’t been able to win even a single game so far. 

In the recent times, Titans have had a good record against the Knights and defeated them in four out of the last five games. It will be a stiff challenge for the Knights to defeat the Titans in the next game. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Titans Preview

It was heartbreak for Farhaan Behardien’s side in their last game against the Cape Cobras. After having batted well the side lost the game due to poor bowling effort. For a team that started as pre-tournament favorites, things haven’t gone their way and the skipper would hope his side recovers from the loss and wins the next game to book a spot in the semi-finals. 

It was a good batting effort from the side in the last game where Tony de Zorzi, Theunis de Bruyn and skipper Farhaan Behardien played well. Henry Davids was the only person in the top order missing out. They have been batting well this season and with players like Grant Thomson and Rubin Hermann in the finishers’ role, they would start confidently in the next game. 

Apart from Shaun von Berg none of the bowlers we up to the mark in the last game and bowled too many bad balls. It has been the problem area for the side all this season as they have failed to keep up good line and length. The team would expect better performances from Gregory Mahlokwana, Eldred Hawken and Junior Dala in the next game.

Titans Predicted Playing XI:

Henry Davids, Tony de Zorzi, Theunis de Bruyn, Farhaan Behardien (c), Rubin Hermann (wk), Grant Thomson, Diego Rosier, Shaun von Berg, Eldred Hawken, Junior Dala, Gregory Mahlokwana

Titans Actual Playing XI:

Shaun von Berg, TL Moreki, Henry Davids, Tony de Zorzi, Theunis de Bruyn, Junior Dala, Rubin Hermann, Farhaan Behardien, GM Thomson, Gregory Mahlokwana, Matthew Arnold

Knights Preview

Three back to back games being washed out isn’t good news for ant side and surely not for Petrus van Biljon’s team. Five out of their eight games have been washed out and the side has managed to lose in the other three. The skipper would be hoping for a full game and want his side to show their character in the next game. 

It has been a while since they played their last game versus Cape Cobras. Back then only Raynard van Tonder and Patrick Kruger stood up to the challenge while batting. The team will have to make better efforts in the next game. The likes of Ryan McLaren, Andries Gous and skipper Petrus van Biljon who haven’t had a good season with the bat will need to score runs for them to win. 

It is the bowling department that the side can see some positives. Tshepo Ntuli and Shadley van Schalkwyk have done well in the limited chances they have got in the tournament. They will need to bowl well against the strong Titans’ batting line-up and also need good support from Ottniel Baartman and Gerald Coetzee as both the bowlers are struggling with their line and length.

Knights Predicted Playing XI:

Ryan McLaren, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Eddie Leie, Petrus van Biljon (c), Grant Mokoena, Tshepo Ntuli, Patrick Kruger, Andries Gous (wk), Ottniel Baartman, Raynard van Tonder, Gerald Coetzee

Knights Actual Playing XI:

Grant Mokoena, Gerald Coetzee, Raynard van Tonder, Shadley van Schalkwyk, T Ntuli, Luvuyo Adam, AGS Gous, PJ van Biljon, Ottneil Baartman, Ryan McLaren, Patrick Kruger

Weather Conditions

It is expected to clear skies in Centurion on the 26th of April which will be welcomed by both the sides. A lot of cricket has been played on the surface this season and is likely to be on the slower side where batsmen would find it difficult to score. The team batting first would be eyeing a score of around 160 runs on this surface. 

Venue

SuperSport Park, Centurion is one of the best T20 venues in South Africa. The pitch offers assistance to the fast bowlers initially in the game and it becomes good to bat on as the game progresses. Once the batsmen get their eyes in they find it easy to score on this surface.  

 

Toss: To Bowl

With no possibility of rain which has been a factor at the toss, all these season teams would be able to make a choice based on their strengths. However there is early assistance for the fast bowlers on this surface and hence the captain winning the toss might want to bowl on this surface first.