Both the teams are in Group 2 of the ongoing Super 8 stage of the marquee event. This match is a crucial one as the winner of this match will progress to the semi-finals of the tournament.
Both the Proteas and Caribbean made one change each to their squads, with Aiden Markram’s side bringing back left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi in place of right-arm seamer Ottoneil Baartman, while the home team brought on Kyle Mayers in place of Johnsonson Charles.
“We will bat first. I don’t think the wicket can get any worse. Hopefully it will be a little better this evening. We are in good form. We haven’t put together a full match yet. The wind is really strong. The pitch is moving sideways. Generally, a good batting wicket slows down as the match progresses. Shamsi will come in for Bartman,” Markram said after winning the toss.
Had West Indies captain Rovman Powell won the toss, he too would have opted to bowl first.
“The toss was 50-50 and we would have bowled as well. We are from the Caribbean and play in local conditions so we should be able to adapt quickly. It’s a team we’ve played against quite often over the last few years. Kyle Mayers will be coming in for Johnson-Charles,” Powell said.
South Africa (Starting XI): Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Aiden Markram (captain), Heinrich Klaassen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
West Indies (Playing XI): Kyle Mayers, Shay Hope, Nicholas Pooran (wicketkeeper), Roston Chase, Rovman Powell (captain), Sharfaen Rutherford, Andre Russell, Akeel Hosin, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Mottier, Obed McCoy.