ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 Match 15, Pakistan vs South Africa: Preview, prediction, likely XIs

South Africa will face Pakistan in Match 15 of the Women’s T20 World Cup, at the Sydney Showground Stadium. A win here will ensure South Africa a berth in the top four. On the other hand, while Pakistan will still stay alive in the tournament even if they lose here, their chances of qualification will be bleak.

Pakistan started well, with a convincing 8-wicket win after restricting West Indies to 124/7. Diana Baig returned 4-0-19-2. They then lost to England, by 42 runs, the only resistance coming from Aman Anwer (4-0-30-3) and Aliya Riaz (41 in 33 balls). While they will expect to take 2 points from the Thailand match, a win here will really boost their cause.

South Africa, on the other hand, started with a hard-fought 6-wicket win against England – a chase they completed with 2 balls to spare, thanks to all-round shows from Marizanne Kapp (4-0-19-2, 38 in 33) and Dane van Niekerk (4-0-20-2, 46 in 51). Lizelle Lee (101 in 60), Shabnim Ismail (3.1-1-8-3), and Sune Luus (61 not out in 41, 4-0-15-3) then helped them trounce Thailand by 113 runs.

Given their momentum, South Africa will take field as favourites. They had also won the last series between the sides, 3-2, last year at home.

Head to head

This has been a close contest, South Africa having won 8 matches to Pakistan’s 6.

Key players

Mignon du Preez (South Africa Women): A conventional batter till a couple of years ago, du Preez added the unorthodox cross-batted slog to her arsenal, adding to her value in the T20 format. As in the England match, she will have a role to play.

Diana Baig (Pakistan Women): Accurate and probing, Baig had bothered the West Indians with the new ball, picking up Hayley Matthews and Lee-Ann Kirby as well as making run-scoring difficult at the same time. She will be West Indies’ biggest threat.

Key players

Likely XIs

Pakistan Women: Muneeba Ali, Javeria Khan, Bismah Maroof (c), Nida Dar, Iram Javed, Umaima Sohail, Aliya Riaz, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Aiman Anwer, Diana Baig, Sadia Iqbal.

South Africa Women: Lizelle Lee, Dane van Niekerk (c), Sune Luus, Mignon du Preez, Chloe Tryon, Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Trisha Chetty (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka.

Prediction

South Africa to win and proceed to the semi-final.