South Africa, England are playing outstanding cricket

South Africa and England cruised into the T20 World Cup semifinals winning all their matches in the Super Eight stage. Both have played some outstanding cricket and look the likely finalists.

But then, a T20 match can turn on its head in a matter of deliveries and New Zealand will be hoping to get that over or two against South Africa, which will turn the game their way.

It’s never easy to captain a team in any form of the game, but in this ultra-short format, it’s even tougher as the matches can turn in an over. In the game against England, Mitchell Santner brought on Glenn Phillips to bowl the 18th over. Phillips had dismissed England skipper Harry Brook in his first over and so Santner’s confidence in him was understandable, but he is not a front-line bowler. The 22 runs that were taken in that over turned the game England’s way.

Similarly, the reluctance to use Daryl Mitchell up the order is costing New Zealand valuable runs. Brook, meanwhile, has gone from strength to strength with his promotion to number three so much so that there’s a school of thought that wants him to open the batting. Remember, he came in to face the second ball of the game against Pakistan, which is as good as opening the batting. He went on to get a memorable ton.

Will Jacks is the guy who is having a dream tournament. He is making an impact with both bat and ball, and to have somebody like him batting at number seven is a huge plus for England.

South Africa will be relying on skipper Aiden Markram to get them off to a start along with Quinton de Kock, who hasn’t quite fired yet. Lungi Ngidi has been the standout bowler with his off-pace deliveries and if Kagiso Rabada can get his rhythm right, South Africa have a lethal new-ball attack backed by the all-round skills of Corbin Bosch. The in-form South Africans should go through but New Zealand, the team that always flies under the radar, could spring another surprise.

(Professional Management Group)