Predicted PXI | Match Prediction | South Africa vs Zimbabwe Match Preview

Predicted PXI | Match Prediction | South Africa vs Zimbabwe Match Preview:

Contents

HEAD TO HEAD: PITCH AND WEATHER REPORT:PLAYING XI (PROBABLE):PREDICTION:WHERE TO WATCH:

In the 18th fixture of the eventful T20 World cup, the African neighbours, Zimbabwe and South Africa are due to meet.

Zimbabwe, who finished the group stage matches as table toppers, will be playing their first T20 World cup after 2016’s T20 World cup in India. Due to Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC)’s suspension by the ICC in 2019, they were left out of the T20 World Cup of 2021. This time, however, they have earned their way to Super 12 by winning 2 of 3 matches in the group stages.

Even before beginning their journey of the T20 World cup, Zimbabwe found themselves in the headlines after they defeated Australia by 3 wickets in the final ODI of the 3-match series. Stating which, we can expect upsets in the tourney from the Craig-led men. The skipper Craig Ervine along with the strongest batters of his clan, Sikander Raza, Sean Williams and Wessly Madhevere, will look to use the batting-friendly conditions down under to amass a good and defendable total. The pace unit of Zimbabwe, Tendai Chatara, Luke Jongwe, Richard Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani will play a pivotal part in giving the South African batsmen a tough time.

The South African team is a complete package. With a batting lineup packed with fine players like Quinton de Cock, David Miller, Rilee Rossouw, Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram, the Bavuma-led men will smash the opponents to script huge totals in their fixtures during the Super 12 round. The South African bowling lineup, too, is second to none. The pacers Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi are in good touch. On top of that, they will find bounce in Hobart much to their advantage. The warm-up match against New Zealand was a true representative of the brilliant form South Africa is in, where the Bavuma-led men defeated New Zealand by 9 wickets, with around 8 overs remaining, after dismissing the whole black caps team for 98.

HEAD TO HEAD:

South Africa have faced their African neighbour, Zimbabwe, five times in T20Is, sweeping the board all 5 times. The encounter between both teams in the world cup has only occurred once where the Proteas came out victorious as well.

PITCH AND WEATHER REPORT:

The likelihood of rain affecting the match tomorrow is very high. According to the bureau of meteorology, there is a 90% chance of rain in Hobart on Monday, especially in the evening. The possible rainfall is 2 to 5mm.

The pitch of Bellerive Oval will definitely favour the batsmen with its extra bounce. The boundaries are smaller on square sides and the outfield is pretty quick as well. To trap the batsmen, bowlers will have to force them to play towards the mid-wicket or straight down the ground, where the boundaries are bigger.

The pacers will enjoy the extra bounce on the pitch before the pitch flattens out. However, the weather can play an important role as well by favouring the bowlers, especially pacers.

PLAYING XI (PROBABLE):

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen/Tristan Stubbs Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada.

Zimbabwe: Regis Chakabva (wk), Craig Ervine (c), Wessly Madhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Tendai Chatara, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.

PREDICTION:

Correcting what went wrong in the last T20 World cup for the Proteas, when they missed out on semi-final spot because of NRR, the Bavuma-led men will be extremely diligent on the field. This, paired with their lethal lineup, clearly gives the South African team more chances to supersede their neighbour.

Although the Zimbabwean team has performed clinically in the group stage matches and has the ability to pull off an upset against major teams in the tournament, their chances of surviving against South Africa are very slim. Furthermore, the Proteas squad laden with quality batters and pacers will see the pitch and weather assisting them. This makes them the favourites to override Zimbabwe in the Bellerive Oval.