It’s simple. Win and you’re in the semifinals. That goes for both West Indies and South Africa in their men’s T20 World Cup match in Antigua.
Should South Africa lose they could still make it on net runrate, and if the United States beat England in Barbados – which would be known before play is due to start in Antigua – the Windies could go through even if they lose. But those are complications best avoided.
Cricketers tend to be primal creatures. They can make all the pretence they like to sophistication and nuance, but when it comes down to it, they are about beating opponents like they are about nothing else. So this will make sense to them. Just win, dammit.
Both teams have been good at that in this tournament. West Indies’ only loss in six games was to England in St Lucia on Wednesday. South Africa have reeled off six consecutive victories, most recently over the English in St Lucia on Friday.
That might make the South Africans look like favourites, but the fact is all of their wins – even against lesser fancied opponents like the US and Nepal – have been hard fought. They got home by a single run against the Nepalese. Not so the Windies, who hammered Uganda by 134 runs, Afghanistan by 104 and the Americans by nine wickets.
The upside for Aiden Markram’s team is that, in the process of sailing close to defeat but, so far, fighting their way to success, is that they have never known themselves better as a team. You don’t need to win emphatically. You just need to win. It’s a lesson South Africans have taken a long time to learn.
The West Indians have been heartened, as Shai Hope says below, by the warm maroon love they have felt coming from the stands wherever they have played in this tournament. They’re playing for themselves, obviously, but also for the fans. That’s powerful alchemy.
When: West Indies vs South Africa, June 24, 12.30AM (June 25) GMT, 8.30PM Local, 2.30AM (June 25) SAST, 6AM (June 25) IST
Where: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua
What to expect: A decent batting pitch with something in it for the spinners. The showers forecast for the morning could add zip to the surface.
Head to head in T20 World Cups: West Indies 1-3 South Africa
Team Watch:
West Indies
Brandon King has been ruled out with a side strain and replaced in the squad by Kyle Mayers.
Tactics & Matchups: Nicholas Pooran is the biggest batting threat in the tournament, and Alzarri Joseph is up there with the ball.
Probable XI: Shai Hope, Johnson Charles, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell (capt), Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Obed McCoy, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie
South Africa
A team who have hung tough to earn six tight wins have gelled into a hardened unit.
Tactics & Matchups: Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj both featured in the win over the United States at this ground, but Shamsi looks like sitting this one out.
Probable XI: Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman
Did you know?
– Both West Indies and South Africa won all four of their group games.
– The teams have played 22 T20Is against each other, and the score is 11-11.
– West Indies have lost two of the four T20Is they have played at this ground, both of them to South Africa – who have won all three they’ve played there.
What they said:
“Keep rallying. That’s our motto. We always talk about rallying around the West Indies. The fans need to do the same. We’re out there fighting for each and every one of us. We’re playing a home World Cup, something a lot of cricketers may not get the opportunity to do. We understand the importance of this and we know how much the fans really want us to win. So we’re fighting, we’re doing it for them.” – Shai Hope, man of the people.
“If you look at previous World Cups, the small moments we haven’t really won. And it’s good to see that all the games have been really close and we’ve found a way. That’s building the character within the team. Crossing the line in those small moments are things we’ve never done before.” – Keshav Maharaj on South Africa’s reinvention.
