http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 – 2nd T20I – Match Preview
New Zealand will be looking to preserve their winning streak in the decisive 2nd ODI of the 3-match series against South Africa, this Sunday, on February 19, at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
The Kiwi squad is in superb form, having recently wrapped up a series against Zimbabwe without a single defeat to their name. Brendon McCullum’s side neatly channeled that same winning spirit into the first match of the series against South Africa this Friday,
at the Westpac Stadium, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wellington-c864, making it look easy as they cruised to a 6-wicket win, with 4 balls remaining.
Aggressive batting, merciless bowling, and tight fielding have been the hallmarks of the team under their current stand-in captain, who has made sure the Black Caps have all three areas satisfactorily covered.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Guptill-c1980 has undoubtedly given an aggressive edge to the Kiwis’ batting lineup, and is the batsman the Proteas bowlers need to watch out for. After scoring his sixth consecutive international half-century in the last match, the explosive opener is
showing no signs of slowing down. Joining him at the top-order is http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RJ-Nicol-c2331, who will be keen to improve over his meager 13-run score in the last match.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 last week, and has the ability to serve as a superb finisher for McCullum’s
side.
Spinners http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TG-Southee-c2659, who took 3 for 28 in the last match, is
also bound to give the opponents a hard time.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Michael-Bates-c1947.
The South Africans seemed disoriented in the opening bout, and consequently have a crucial match ahead of them, which will test their ability to keep their nerve and perform under pressure. If http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Allan-Robert-Border-c43726 de Villiers’ men are unable to claim the victory for themselves
in this one, they will end up losing the T20 series.
De Villiers, who is leading his first overseas campaign as captain, is a star batsman, who has what it takes to rattle the Kiwi bowlers, if he can move beyond the disappointing 8 runs off 17 balls which he scored in the first T20.
It is a similar story for nearly all the top Proteas batsmen. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HM-Amla-c1557 got starts, but were unable to bring their best game to the field.
The visitors will also be looking to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Colin-Alexander-Ingram-c51381, who had been placed at number three in the batting line-up, failed to perform, and may find himself replaced.
The South African bowlers will need a little more punch if they are aiming to dismantle New Zealand’s intimidating batting order. Pacers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Morkel-c73528, and Rusty Theron will be carrying some heavy responsibility on their shoulders.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LL-Tsotsobe-c1842 failed to take any wickets on Friday, but is likely to be given another chance to prove himself. De Villiers may also end up adding pacer Marchant de Lange to the bowling attack at the expense of Ingram. Overall, it seems the South African
team needs to dig down deep, and tap into their fighting spirit.
The pitch conditions at Seddon Park, Hamilton, look excessively batsmen-friendly, and the side that wins the toss will undoubtedly exploit that to their benefit.
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