USA vs SA Match Prediction
The USA, the hosts, and South Africa will square off to begin the Super 8 stage in North Sound, Antigua, on Wednesday.
Despite their batters’ dismal performance in the competition thus far, South Africa has been fortunate to make it to the Super 8. Out of the eight teams in the Super 8, the squad with the second-worst batting average (18) has not even reached the 120-run mark once during the season.
If not for their outstanding bowling unit, they would have lost to Bangladesh and Nepal. They were in terrible shape in relation to the Netherlands as well. With just one individual fifty in the competition, the Proteas’ bowlers have been their team’s heroes thus far in this World Cup, but their hitters have performed significantly worse.
However, the USA has been the tournament’s surprise package. They have played an aggressive style of cricket and shocked Pakistan in the Group Stage. The USA’s batting lineup against the might of South Africa’s bowling will compete on Wednesday.
THE PROBABLE XIs FOR THE USA & SOUTH AFRICA
At Antigua, South Africa is anticipated to enter with an unaltered starting lineup. The USA cricket team may alter things a little. Shayan Jahangir will be replaced by skipper Monank Patel, and Nosthush Kenjige may take Shadley van Schalkwyk’s place.
Most likely, South Africa XI
Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs, and David Miller are the batters.
Everyman – Marco Jansen
keeper of wickets, Quinton de Kock
Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ottneil Baartman, and Tabraiz Shamsi are the bowlers.
USA most likely XI
Aaron Jones, Andries Gous, and Steven Taylor are the batters.
Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, and Nitish Kumar are the All-Rounders.
keeper of wickets, Monank Patel
Bowlers: Jasdeep Singh, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, and Nosthush Kenjige
Performance Statistics (South Africa)
1.DAVIS MILLER
David Miller is the only player from South Africa to score fifty runs in this World Cup and is the team’s top run scorer. After South Africa cricket team fell down the Netherlands 12–4, he turned things around with a match-winning 59.
DAVID MILLER IN 2024 T20 WORLD CUP
INNINGS – 4
RUNS – 101
AVERAGE – 50.5
STRIKE RATE – 96.2
50-PLUS – 1
2. ANRICH NORTJE
Anrich Nortje is in red-hot form in the tournament and he is the leading wicket-taker for South Africa with 9 wickets in 4 matches at a stunning average of 7.8!
ANRICH NORTJE IN 2024 T20 WORLD CUP
INNINGS – 4
WICKETS – 9
STRIKE RATE – 10.6
ECONOMY RATE – 4.4
AVERAGE – 7.8
Players who can make a Difference (South Africa)
1. Heinrich Klaasen
Klaasen is widely regarded as the most destructive finisher in white-ball cricket in the world. He is particularly severe against spin and has a strike rate of 151.2 against the slower bowlers. Klaasen was in blistering form in the IPL where he had a strike rate of 238 in the death overs.
2. Tristan Stubbs
Stubbs is another devastating South African batter capable of annihilating any bowling attack in the world. Stubbs was in imperial form in IPL 2024 where he blasted 378 runs in just 198 deliveries at a strike rate of 191. Stubbs has a strike rate of 211 in the final 4 overs in all T20 cricket.
Statistical Performance (USA)
1. AARON JONES
Aaron Jones will be the batter to watch out for in the USA. He slammed a brilliant unbeaten 94 off just 40 deliveries against Canada in his team’s opening fixture in the tournament in Dallas. Jones is the highest scorer for USA in the tournament.
AARON JONES IN 2024 T20 WORLD CUP
INNINGS – 3
RUNS – 141
AVERAGE – 141
STRIKE RATE – 160.2
50-PLUS – 1
2. COREY ANDERSON
Former New Zealand all-rounder, Corey Anderson, will be the other dangerous player in the USA XI. Anderson is a veteran in the format with 649 runs in 31 T20Is at a strike rate of 130.3. Anderson held the record for the fastest hundred in ODI history (for New Zealand, off 36 deliveries) before it was broken by AB de Villiers. He is also a useful medium-pacer.
COREY ANDERSON IN 2024 T20 World Cup
INNINGS – 2
RUNS – 18
AVERAGE – 18
STRIKE RATE – 105.9
50-PLUS – 0
Players who can make a Difference (USA)
1. Andries Gous
Andries Gous is a solid batter at number 3 who showcased his prowess with a 46-ball 65 against Canada in USA’s opening fixture in the tournament at Dallas. Gous has already scored 263 runs in just 9 matches for the USA at an average of 29 and strike rate of 147.
2. Harmeet Singh
Slow left-arm orthodox, Harmeet Singh, was the most restrictive bowler for the USA against Canada and will be key in the middle-overs’ phase especially on helpful tracks in the tournament. Born in Mumbai, Harmeet is a line and length bowler who stifles the opposition batters and chokes the run-flow in the 7-16 phase of play. He has an economy of 6.7 in T20I cricket.
Team Head to Head
South Africa and USA have never faced each other in a T20I
Players Head to Head
1. ANRICH NORTJE vs LHB IN 2024 T20 WORLD CUP
INNINGS – 3
BALLS FACED – 12
RUNS SCORED – 2
WICKETS – 5
Anrich Nortje has been sensational with the new ball against left-handed batters in the tournament. It will be an interesting battle between him and Steven Taylor in the powerplay.
2. AARON JONES vs SPIN IN 2024 T20 WORLD CUP
INNINGS – 2
BALLS FACED – 30
RUNS SCORED – 79
WICKETS – 0
Aaron Jones has a stunning record against spin in the tournament. He has a breathtaking strike rate of 263 against the spinners without getting dismissed even once. His exploits include nine sixes.
3. HEINRICH KLAASEN vs SPIN IN T20Is
INNINGS – 30
BALLS FACED – 225
RUNS SCORED – 338
WICKETS – 9
Heinrich Klaasen has had a quiet tournament and is due for a big one. He is widely regarded as one of the most destructive finishers in white-ball cricket in the world. Klaasen has a strike rate of 150 vs spin in T20I cricket.
Venue and Pitch
The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound in Antigua has hosted four matches in the tournament with the team batting second coming out victorious in three. Not surprisingly, the captain winning the toss has elected to chase on three occasions. The probability of winning the match after winning the toss is 50%. The highest score at the venue in this tournament is 153 while the average score is 94.
The pitch in Antigua has offered a lot of purchase to both, pace and spin. While the fast bowlers have an average of 19.5, strike rate of 14.8 and economy of 7.9, spinners have fared even better with an average of 19.2, strike rate of 14 and economy of 8.2. The wicket has true bounce and carry with value for shot-making. England chased down Oman’s 47 in just 3.1 overs in Antigua in the group stage. There is only a 7% chance of rain on Wednesday while the mean temperature is expected to be around 29 degrees.
Match Prediction
South Africa will start favourites against USA. They have a phenomenal batting line-up which has been below-par in the tournament thus far – watch out for Klaasen and Markram in the encounter. They also have a brilliant bowling up with variety in pace and spin. USA will need to surprise South Africa and take the attack to their bowlers but also not be reckless against the new ball. If they can preserve their wickets in the first six overs, they might be able to challenge the Proteas. However, based on the relative strength of both the teams, South Africa have a 75% chance of victory.
