The Caribbean is the kind of place where hotel cleaners think nothing of detaining you for more than an hour, as you’re making your way to your room, to discuss why the captain deployed two slips – rather than three – after lunch.
So it wasn’t surprising that South Africa’s men’s T20 World Cup squad were supplied with potentially valuable information before they had even checked in to their accommodation in Kingstown. “When we arrived at 3am our bus driver told me that when the sea is rough there’s bounce and pace, and when the sea is calm it spins,” Rob Walter told a press conference on Wednesday. “Most importantly, I want us to be able to respond to the conditions in front of us and be able to figure out a method to win.”
So far, so good. South Africa overcame the challenges presented by Nassau County’s erratic pitch and sluggish outfield well enough to reel off wins against Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and Bangladesh. Another success over Nepal at Arnos Vale on Saturday and they will sail into the Super Eights – which they have already reached – with an unblemished record.
Sandeep Lamichhane stands in their way of doing so. Nepal’s best player has yet to make it onto the field in the tournament because he was denied a United States visa and the team’s first two matches were in Dallas and Lauderhill. Whether Lamichhane’s conviction and subsequent acquittal for rape in Nepal was the reason for such a decision has not been disclosed by the US government. But there is little doubt that his return – he has not played an international since November – will be key to Nepal’s chances.
Even so, anything except a resounding South Africa win will raise the alarm that, despite their performance so far, they are not as prepared for the business end of the tournament as they would like.
When: Nepal vs South Africa, June 14, 11.30PM GMT, 7.30PM Local, 1.30AM SAST, 5AM IST
Where: Arnos Vale, St Vincent
What to expect: Only two men’s T20Is were played at this ground before the tournament, and the pitches were relaid before Thursday’s game between Bangladesh and the Netherlands. Thus the likely conditions remain mostly a mystery. But we know the floodlights are new, and therefore good. There’s little chance of enough rain to get in the way of the cricket.
Head to head in T20 World Cups: 0-0
Team Watch:
Nepal
Sandeep Lamichhane’s first match of the tournament can only boost the team.
Tactics & Matchups:Lamichhane and Dipendra Singh Airee could be Nepal’s best options to bowl away from the South Africans’ strengths.
Probable XI: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Anil Sah, Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Sandeep Lamichhane, Karan KC, Abinash Bohara
South Africa
Having booked their place in the Super Eights should help Aiden Markram’s team relax and play less constrained cricket.
Tactics & Matchups: South Africa’s classy quicks could blow the Nepalese away.
Probable XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman
Did you know?
– One of the straight boundaries at Arnos Vale is more than 10 metres shorter than the other.
– Only three bowlers took more wickets than Sandeep Lamichhane in ODIs last year.
– Anrich Nortje needs three wickets to surpass Dale Steyn as South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cups.
What they said:
“We know we are walking into the unknown; we have never played South Africa before. But we have been training very hard and we know a lot of work has been put in. We cannot think about things that are not in our control.” – Monty Desai after Nepal’s washed out match against Sri Lanka in Lauderhill, which left their hopes of reaching the Super Eights hanging by a thread.
“I don’t think belief is something this team struggles with. They back themselves and we back them as a coaching staff. They’re a tight unit, they’re good human beings, they get on well together. That’s a great advert from a team point of view.” – it’s all good in South Africaland, Rob Walter says.
