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New Zealand V South Africa: 1st T20 - Match Preview

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New Zealand V South Africa: 1st T20 - Match Preview
After a successful clean sweep of lowly ranked Zimbabwe across all three formats of the game, a ramping New Zealand side is all set to play the formidable South Africa at home, as the two sides clash in a T20 encounter at the Westpac Stadium, Wellington
today February 17, 2012.
Both sides come into the series at the back of decent showings against opponents in their respective backyards – Proteas last month crushed Sri Lankans while the Kiwis recently clean swept the Zimbabweans – and are undoubtedly high on confidence.
After a one-sided affair against the Lankans at home, the tourists have had a well earned rest. The Kiwis on the other hand have the advantage, or may be the disadvantage, of continuous cricket as today’s match against South Africa is going to be their third
T20 in six days.
After a perfect start to the season, New Zealand would be eager to continue the good work. A victorious start will be a big boost to their morale.
New Zealand’s will be relying mostly on their star studded batting line up which includes the likes of in-form Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson. The hosts seem to lack a bit on the bowling front, however Kyle Mills is likely to spearhead
the home attack while Nathan McCullum will hold the other end up.
The hosts had rested opener Martin Guptill for the last T20 against Zimbabwe as he was nursing a groin injury. The news from Wellington is that the right-hander has recovered completely from the injury, and is likely to be part of today’s starting XI, in
which case, James Franklin would have to move back down the order. Guptill’s return will undoubtedly make the Kiwi’s stronger.
Pace bowling all-rounder Jacob Oram, failed to recover in time from his calf strain and will miss out the tour opener. In the absence of Oram’s, the Kiwis may play two spinners in Nathan McCullum and Hira.
The Proteas on the other hand are likely to stick with the same line-up they had in the tour match, barring a last minute injury. Only change one can expect in the South African starting XI from the tour game is Johan Botha, who could be rested in favour
of Robin Petersen.
The Wellington pitch is expected to be full of runs with a bit in it for the seamers. The weather forecast for Friday is clear skies with an average temperature of 16 degrees Celsius.
Whilst South Africa’s biggest aim on this tour is to win the three-match Test series by a 3-nil margin to dethrone England as the world number one Test team. They will be eager to kick off the tour with a victory.
New Zealand: (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), 3 Rob Nicol, 4 Colin de Grandhomme, 5 James Franklin, 6 Kane Williamson, 7 Nathan McCullum, 8 Jacob Oram, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Ronnie Hira, 11 Kyle Mills
South Africa: (probable) 1 Hashim Amla, 2 Richard Levi, 3 Colin Ingram, 4 AB de Villiers (capt & wk), 5 JP Duminy, 6 Justin Ontong, 7 Albie Morkel, 8 Johan Botha / Robin Peterson, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Rusty Theron, 11 Lonwabo Tsotsobe