South Africa are 1-0 up on West Indies with two to play as the teams head to Supersport Park, Centurion for the second T20 on Thursday.
This is a 3 match series with the final contest taking place at The Wanderers at the weekend and then it’s all about the T220 World Cup.
The opening match of the series was staged at Paarl on Tuesday and the Proteas, who were short price favourites, came out on top by all of 9 wickets.
South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first and West Indies posted what looked like a competitive total of 173/7. Hetmyer top scored with 48 including 3 of his sides 8 maximums. King, chase and Rovman Powell all scored in the 20’s, Linde (3/25) was the pick of the South Africa bowlers and Maharaj and Bosch both claimed 2 wickets.
It looked like game on at the half way stage but Lhuan-dre Pretorius (44) and Aaiden Markram (who went on to finish unbeaten on 86) put on 83 in 7.5 overs for the first wicket and they were joined by Rickleton (40) to see the Proteas home in 17.5 overs. South Africa hit 6 maximums, Chase took the only wicket for the visitors and George Linde was named Player of the Match.
This was how the teams lined up at Paarl on Tuesday.
South Africa: Lhuan-dre Pretorius,Aiden Markram (c),Ryan Rickelton (wk),Dewald Brevis,Rubin Hermann,Jason Smith,George Linde,Corbin Bosch,Kagiso Rabada,Keshav Maharaj,Kwena Maphaka
West Indies: Brandon King,Johnson Charles (wk),Shimron Hetmyer,Rovman Powell,Sherfane Rutherford,Roston Chase (c),Romario Shepherd,Jason Holder,Matthew Forde,Akeal Hosein,Jayden Seales
South Africa Recent Form
South Africa were in India for a 5 match series in December and they lost 3-1 with one match washed out.
The Proteas tour of Pakistan in October / November saw them win the first o 3 matches but Pakistan hit back to the series 2-1.
Prior to that an under-strength Proteas side were surprisingly beaten by Namibia in a one off contest in Windhoek. A 3 match series in England in September was shared 1-1 with the decider washed out whilst in August the Proteas lost 2-1 in Australia.
West Indies Recent Form
West Indies arrive on the back of a 2-1 series defeat against Afghanistan in Dubai, they lost the first 2 matches (38 runs and then 39 runs) before winning the final contest (15 runs).
They were in New Zealand in November where they won the opening match but went on to lose 3-1 with one game washed out.
In October West Indies completed a 3-0 clean sweep on their tour of Bangladesh.
Recent Head to Head
Prior to the first T20 of this series West Indies had won 6 of the previous 7 head to heads in this format, most recently winning 3-0 in Tarouba in August 2024.
Overall the teams have met 27 times in this format with South Africa winning 13 to West Indies 14.
The Venue, Supersport Park, Centurion
Over the course of the last decade South Africa have played 11 T20 internationals at Centurion, winning 5 and losing 6.
The most recent T20 international at this venue came against Pakistan in December 2024 and the Proteas chased down Pakistan’s bat first total of 206/5 in 19.3 overs for a 7 wicket win (Reeza Hendricks 117).
We have just the SA20 conclude and of 6 matches staged at Centuion the most recent, an eliminator between Paarl aand JSK saw the Royals post 210/5 and the Super Kings reply fell short on 174/8.
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The Betting
Betway have South Africa at 3/10 to win the game with West Indies currently trading at 2.65/1
The total sixes line is under / over 15.5
The Proteas are 21/20 to clear the ropes more times than Windies who are even money with a tie at 7.25/1
Prices subject to change
The Verdict
It might be worth a weather check to make sure there are no thunderstorms around but given a full game I would be pretty sweet on the chances of 16 or more sixes in total and a highest individual score of over 67.5.
Bets: Total match sixes over 15.5 at 17/20 with Betway
Highest individual score over 67.5 at 9/10 with Pokerbet
Prices subject to change