Aiden Markram won his third toss in a row and, once again, chose to chase as South Africa look for a 3-0 finish against West Indies in their final outing before next week’s T20 World Cup. The Wanderers surface appeared drier than usual and afternoon showers were on the radar, so the home captain stuck with the formula that has worked so far.
“It’s looked a touch slow all series and there’s weather about, so we’ll rather know what we’re chasing,” Markram told the host broadcaster. West Indies skipper Shai Hope was relaxed about batting first: “Runs on the board are never a bad thing here. We need to keep improving the little things.”
Both sides rotated heavily. South Africa rested the frontline pace trio of Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortjé and Kagiso Rabada, recalling left-arm spinner George Linde, seamer Corbin Bosch and, crucially, Lungi Ngidi. Ngidi has not bowled since the SA20 final and played that match with heavy strapping on his left leg; medical staff insisted he is “fully fit, just short on overs”.
Going with two spinners at the Wanderers is unusual, but coach Rob Walter argued balance: “George gives us a power-play option and depth with the bat. We need flexibility heading into the tournament.”
West Indies also made three changes, bringing in Johnson Charles, left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie and fast bowler Shamar Joseph for Brandon King, Sherfane Rutherford and Jayden Seales. That leaves them with a three-spinner attack of Motie, Akeal Hosein and Roston Chase on a ground traditionally friendly to quicks. Assistant coach Rayon Griffith was unfazed: “The ball’s been gripping all tour. We’d be silly not to back our slow men.”
Away from pure cricket, the Proteas wear the pink strip for the first time in a T20 international, extending the annual breast-cancer awareness initiative first launched in ODIs. The fixture has raised more than R7-million since 2013; organisers hope the shorter format’s wider TV reach will boost donations.
Teams
South Africa: Aiden Markram (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi.
West Indies: Johnson Charles, Shai Hope (capt, wk), Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Matthew Forde.
Play is set to start on time, weather permitting, with South Africa eyeing a clean sweep and West Indies searching for the combination that will carry them through the World Cup’s opening week.
