South Africa vs West Indies Match Prediction: Pitch Report, Key Battles, Who will win today’s South Africa vs West Indies warm-up match | Cricket World Cup 2019

South Africa vs West Indies Match Prediction: The Sportsrush presents before you the Match Prediction of warm-up match between SA vs WI.

South Africa get set to entertain West Indies in their final warm-up match before they get their World Cup campaign underway. After having made light work of Sri Lanka by pummeling them by 87 runs on the back of a scrumptious clinical performance, South Africa will be looking to build on that performance against West Indies as well.

Meanwhile for the West Indies, this is the first opportunity they are being accorded to come and try out their combinations for the upcoming tournament. These are not conditions they are unfamiliar with though, having played in Ireland this month itself, preceded by a full-fledged series in England in the early part of 2019.

For West Indies, the issues prevalent are of a higher magnitude. They were defeated by Bangladesh of late in the tri-nations final and their bowling unit has been crumbled to go for massive runs. The batting order apart from the first 3 batsmen isn’t stable as well and they’ll be looking to address all these on Sunday.

A completely one sided clash, South Africa have made short work of West Indies more times than not when the two sides have met in the cricketing fraternity. In the 71 matches the two sides have contested in, South Africa have a momentous 44 wins to West Indies mere 15 with the one match ending in a draw and being abandoned each.

South Africa vs West Indies – Pitch Report

The surface at the County Ground in Bristol played more or less true to what has been the tradition at the venue during the warm-up encounter between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan managed to put on just 262 while batting first, something Afghanistan successfully managed to chase down with 2 balls to spare to pull of one of the biggest stories in the build up to the tournament.

However, there were more than enough signs of the surface swaying in favour of the batsmen in that particular encounter and the track only promises to get better as the matches traversed by in the world cup. With South Africa and West Indies both having a hoard of exquisite, clean and hard hitters of the ball, 300 will be something that will be breached past easily.

The batters will enjoy their day out here and the side winning the toss will be looking to bat first and give their batsmen the maximum time in the middle.

South Africa vs West Indies – Key Battles

Kagiso Rabada vs Chris Gayle

Announcing that this will be the last time he’ll be playing for West Indies in the ODI format, Chris Gayle was among the leading scorers when West Indies played in England earlier this month.

With scores of 135, 50 and 162 in 97 balls, the short boundaries and batting conducive conditions concurrently played to his strengths. It was an enterprising series, one where he played an important role in ensuring that West Indies drew the series 2-2.

What Gayle does have a problem though while building his innings is the early part. He likes to take his time to settle in and get into the middle and bide his time out. In Kagiso Rabada, South Africa have just he bowler who’ll make full advantage of Gayle’s aberration and he’ll continuously pepper him with the pace and an immaculate line and length.

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Faf du Plessis vs Sheldon Cottrell

For Faf du Plessis, 2019 is turning out to be quite the year. After emerging as the highest run scorer for the Chennai Superkings and a main component of CSK’s path to the final, he continued it up with a 69 ball 88 against Sri Lanka in South Africa’s opening warm-up match.

At number 3, South Africa are looking at Faf du Plessis to come good across the showpiece tournament for them and become the mainstay in their top order. A batsman who can act as a fulcrum and craft out a stupendous foundation for the middle-order to come and build on, he can thwart West Indies gameplan on the day with consummate ease.

We’ve picked Sheldon Cottrell against Faf du Plessis only because he’s given the new ball for West Indies and they’ll be wishing he can have an upturn in form. He’s endured a torrid time lately, being besmirched by Ireland and Bangladesh and if West Indies are to put on a fruitful journey towards the world cup, he’s one bowler who needs to get among the wickets.

South Africa vs West Indies – What numbers suggest?

In the 71 matches the two sides have contested in, South Africa have a momentous 44 wins to West Indies mere 15 with the one match ending in a draw and being abandoned each.

South Africa vs West Indies – Match Prediction

Having already got acclimatized with the conditions prevalent in the country, the astute South African unit are heavy favourites to win this match. Having defeated Sri Lanka in their first warm-up encounter by 87 runs with some stellar batting and bowling performances further buoys South Africa.

However, it won’t be as easy an encounter for them when West Indies come calling. The nations themselves are familiar with the kind of pitches they are to expect, having played in similar conditions in Ireland recently. They have a power packed batting line-up with the likes of Chris Gayle, Shai Hope, Elvin Lewis and Andre Russel more than capable of launching an onslaught when they get going.

This will be a barrage of runs with the boundary being found at will. What will edge the encounter in South Africa’s way is their superior bowling unit, one that skittled out Sri Lanka for a lowly 251 and should put on a resolute front against West Indies as well.