After a closely contested ODI series, Ireland and South Africa will be up against each other in the first T20I of the three-match series, on Monday, 19 July. Both sides will consider this as a mock drill for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021.
Ireland has not played a T20I since March 2019. They will be playing eight of them in the upcoming months. Kevin O’Brien, who had bid adieu to the ODI, will be back in the mix. He will pair up with Paul Stirling to open the innings for Ireland.
Andy Balbirnie will come at No. 3, followed by Harry Tector and George Dockrell, two architects of Ireland’s historic victory in the second ODI. Shane Getkate and Simi Singh, who scored a century in the last ODI, will be the two all-rounders.
South Africa, on the other hand, will be high on confidence after prevailing over West Indies in the recently concluded T20I series. However, they are still far from a well-settled unit. One of the problems they are facing is how to get the best out of Temba Bavuma the batter.
For the first four matches, Bavuma came at first down, after Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks. Then in the last T20I, Hendricks warmed the bench, and Bavuma opened batting. While South Africa won, Bavuma got out for a duck.
David Miller’s lean patch has been another concern. South Africa have often started well but have been let down by the lack of contribution from the middle order. With Heinrich Klassen on the bench, Miller’s place may come under scrutiny if he does not perform.
Betway Fantasy Tips
- Quinton de Kock is in a rich vein of form. He was the leading run-scorer in the South Africa-West Indies T20I series. De Kock as captain would not be a bad choice for your team.
- Tabraiz Shamsi is a very economical bowler, and has a knack for picking wickets. Apart from him, Anrich Nortje will be a handy choice for the bowlers.
- Avoid picking Kevin O’Brien in the team. He has managed just 47 runs across six domestic T20 matches this year. Instead, go for Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling.
Probable XIs
South Africa: Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lizaad Williams
Ireland: Kevin O’Brien, Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie, Harry Tector, George Dockrell, Lorcan Tucker, Simi Singh, Shane Getkate, Barry McCarthy, Josh Little, Craig Young
Prediction
South Africa should win this match.