The T20 World Cup has reached the Super Eights stage, and Richard Mann thinks South Africa could be vulnerable when they take on United States of America on Wednesday.
The T20 World Cup Super Eights begin on Wednesday, with South Africa and United States of America locking horns in Gros Islet, 3.30pm, UK time.
USA have been the surprise package of the tournament so far, progressing to this stage thanks to a spectacular Super Over victory over Pakistan and then a little help from the Florida weather.
Nevertheless, they are here on merit and aren’t to be underestimated against South Africa who, while unbeaten in their four Group D fixtures, only scrambled home against the likes of Nepal, Bangladesh and Netherlands.
South Africa’s 115-7 against Nepal is the best they have managed with the bat so far and while the pitches must take plenty of blame for that, the batting clearly hasn’t clicked.
When you have the likes Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen in your ranks, a big score is never usually far away, but the facts are that South Africa have struggled for their best cricket.
On the flip side, winning close matches in ICC events is something this team hasn’t always managed, so they ought to take heart from those victories, however hard they have had to work for them.
Nevertheless, they now meet a very dangerous USA outfit that have at times lit up this competition, and even when losing to India in New York, they made India work for their win as the pre-tournament favourites needed 18.2 overs to chase down their victory target of 111.
The bowling is certainly capable. Saurabh Netravalkar has been outstanding, returning figures of 4-0-18-2 against both Pakistan and India, and he has had fair support from the likes of Ali Khan.
It’s the batting that realty excites, though. Former New Zealand international Corey Anderson is a familiar name in their top six but by no means the headline act.
Aaron Jones and Andries Gous have both past 100 runs for the tournament already and the former is striking at 160.22, quite the achievement when you consider just how hard batting has been so far.
We haven’t seen the best of opener Steven Taylor yet, either, but he has been a very reliable performer for USA for a long time now and came into the World Cup in really good nick.
All in all, there are plenty of reasons to think USA can put it up to the Proteas here.
On what we’ve seen from both sides at this tournament, you can certainly make a case for backing the outsider at 9/2, and it’s worth remembering that South Africa were beaten by Netherlands at the last T20 World Cup in 2022.
They are by no means immune from the preverbal banana skin and USA look well worth a small play at the prices, even for those wanting to take the 9/2 now and then look to trade out in-running should, as expected, USA prove competitive and make a good fist of this.
Posted at 1455 BST on 17/06/24
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