Image Credit- ICC
Although this match between the West Indies and South Africa isn’t officially referred to as a quarterfinal, it might be one. If they triumph, they will advance to the T20 World Cup 2024 semifinals regardless of the outcome of the other matches. If England loses to the USA, then net run-rate comes into play; if England wins, the West Indies will be eliminated.
The equation for South Africa is a little more complex. They will know precisely what the margins they are working with by the time the game is played, and a win will secure their place in the final four, but they might still make it there with a narrow loss.
The fact that five of South Africa’s six games have been close may be weighing heavily on their minds. They appear to be riding a wave of good fortune that they were unable to catch in previous tournaments as they have stolen victories from the most improbable of circumstances. They have a flawless record, but they will be the first to acknowledge that they haven’t yet assembled the ideal game. They are once again being discussed as title material after six wins in a row. Is this the year when South Africa wins a T20 World Cup at last? The West Indies could have an opinion on that.
Through the group stage, the co-hosts also emerged victorious. After that, they were defeated by the reigning champions, England, in the Super Eight, but they are still on course to accomplish their goal of reviving the West Indies as a major force by contending fiercely and, ideally, winning a third T20 World Cup. Everything currently depends on how they perform in this game, and while though they should be encouraged by their 3-0 victory over South Africa prior to the competition, it’s important to keep in mind that they played against a subpar South African team. Now is the true test.
With 11 tournament wickets, Alzarri Joseph and Anrich Nortje are tied for the most, but Joseph’s average is marginally higher (13.81 versus 12.90) and his strike rate is marginally higher. It is fair to say that Joseph, who has taken a wicket per 11 balls during the tournament and Nortje every 13 balls, is the biggest threat the West Indies have with the ball. He is going to be much more motivated to try to duplicate the achievement on his home pitch of Antigua.
Marco Jansen has gone unnoticed despite playing a significant role in South Africa’s advancement, while Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, and Ottneil Baartman have all excelled at different phases of the competition. South Africa’s second-lowest economy rate, behind Baartman, is 5.90, which primarily comprises bowling in the powerplay.
Jansen has been the game-winning player in other aspects even if he has been wicketless in all games bar one. He had to bowl the penultimate over against England and only gave up seven runs, leaving Nortje with thirteen to hold. Essentially, he has adjusted to the circumstances when some of his teammates have not, and he has not yet been afforded an opportunity to demonstrate his bat skills.