South Africa set West Indies target of 123 in T20 World Cup 2016, Match 27 at Nagpur

South Africa take on former champions West Indies in Match 27 of the ICC World T20 2016, Group 1 match at Nagpur. Last time South Africa and West Indies met in a bilateral series, it was West Indies, who walked away as the series winners. Chris Gayle scored a magnificent 117 against South Africa in the first match of the inaugural ICC worldT20 2007.

Needing 206 to win the match, South Africa won the match by eight wickets with 14 deliveries to spare. Gayle has been playing well in the T20 leagues around the world including the recently concluded Big Bash League (BBL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL). He will look to get his team off to a rollicking start.

South Africa too had enough practice ahead of the tournament. They played a two-match T20 International (T20I) against England and then followed it up with three-match T20I series against Australia — both at home. West Indies and South Africa have many players playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and will not be strangers to the conditions in India and hence should not find it difficult to acclimatise themselves here. South Africa have had a poor record in the ICC tournaments and will be looking to change that in the ICC World T20 2016.

West Indies have been in an excellent form in ICC World T20 2016, coming up victorious in both their matches. First beating England, by chasing down a mammoth target of 183-runs on Mumbai’s feather-bed, while  outplayed Sri Lanka by 7 wickets in their second match at Bengaluru where the pitch was a square-turner. West Indies will want an encore of the performances by Chris Gayle, Andre Fletcher and Samuel Badree.

South Africa, on the other hand, lost in a scintillating finish against England before beating Afghanistan, not before having another batting collapse. Another loss will severely hamper their chances of making it to the semi final round. South African batting has been in great nick so far, with the top six batsmen have powered them to successive 200-plus scores.

West Indies have an array of all-rounders in the ranks and will want them to perform well here again, with not much pace to play with West Indies have relied on Bravo and Braithwrate to shoulder the bowling responsibilites thus far. Samuel Badree has been the key bowler for them, spinning batsmen out with his variation in pace and guile.

South Africa have suffered mostly due to their bowling failures of Kagiso Rabad, Dale Steyn and Kyle Abbott, who have been taken for runs in almost all the match. Only Imran Tahir has been so what successful keeping the run-rate in check. David Wiese has also been pounded badly by the opposition teams.

West Indies are at advantage as they take on South Africa after two consecutive win. Chris Gayle and Andre Fletcher are expected to open the innings for the Caribbean's and that can give the require impetus against South Africa.

West Indies have found themselves in a comfortable position after big wins over England and Sri Lanka. Another victory now will virtually guarantee them a spot in the semi-finals. South Africa, on the other hand, lost in a spectacular finish against England before beating Afghanistan. Another loss will severely hamper their chances of making it to the semi final round.

Hopefully can expect South Africa to maintain the similar squad that worked in their favor against Afghanistan bringing AB de Villiers in the middle order and Faf du Plessis above him. With regards to bowlers, South Africa have faced flat apart from the regulars like Kyle Abbott, Kasigo Rabada and Chris Morris giving the impetus. 

South Africa will be hoping to overcome their bowling demons and manage a respectable performance with the ball against West Indies.

West Indies will be hoping their batsmen can take full toll on the misfiring South African bowling attack. Chris Gayle will want to bat for 15 overs at least.

This should be a cracker of a match one way or another. The batting line-ups can produce a tuckload of runs, but the spinners will be in action too.

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Chris Morris, David Miller, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, David Wiese.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (c), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Evin Lewis.  source    country