The Super 10 games of the ICC World Twenty20 2014 in Chittagong will begin with two Group 1 matches today. In the afternoon fixture, world’s number one Twenty20 side Sri Lanka will lock horns with world’s number one Test playing nation South Africa. While in the evening, the ICC World Twenty20 2009 champions England will take on New Zealand. Both the games will be held at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) nestled in the port-city.
Sri Lanka v South Africa
The afternoon game at ZACS will see two top teams of different formats of cricket battle for a good start to the multi-nation event. South Asian giants Sri Lanka are the likely favorites in the game against an injury-hit South Africa side for the reason that it had spent a little more than a month in Bangladesh and that the host country has a good fan base to support their back.
The Lankans according to their captain Dinesh Chandimal will eye to trap South Africa with the spin attack led by Ajantha Mendis, Sachithra Sennanayeka and Rangana Herath, who is said to have good plans in the game against the Proteas batting. However the side will need to assess the wickets which are not typical for Chittagong.
South Africa came into the tournament with a 2-0 defeat to Australia but gained some momentum by winning both of the warm-up games. However the side will look more into getting the injury issues solved before they head into the very important fixture.
The side will conduct fitness tests on Dale Steyn and the captain, Faf du Plessis. Both players are attempting to recover from hamstring injuries.
Du Plessis informed that the side is working hard on fitness and that they currently seemed to be doing fine but a final call will be made just before the game. Du Plessis has been batting in the nets but still had some discomfort while running. Steyn bowled on Friday but at a little off top pace, ahead of a full-tilt session in the morning.
England v New Zealand
Taking the recent results in the Twenty20 format, England will be going into the game against New Zealand without much to boost. The side lost both the warm-up game after the bowling department failed to restrict India with a below par score and then in the second game, failed to defend the score against West Indies. And today, the English bowling will be challenged.
England have only won one off the last eight Twenty20 Internationals and with group games against Sri Lanka and South Africa to come, they really need to turn things around soon.
Good news for the side is that skipper Stuart Broad was able to bowl two overs – which went for 14 runs – in the final pre-tournament game. Broad had a painkilling injection in his knee last week and could start in the opening game tomorrow.
However, if Broad fails a fitness test, Eoin Morgan will continue to deputise as skipper.
The former champions are in for a tough assessment against New Zealand, although the Kiwis have also lost the two warm-ups by very close margins. The Black Caps lost the game to Pakistan off the second last ball of the match and against Australia they lost by just three runs.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has been in good touch, scoring 59* and 37 respectively.
There will be little room for error in the newly created Super 10 stage, which means that England can’t really afford to drop points in their opening game if they harbour ambitions of becoming the first repeat winners of the World T20.
Both the side will be mindful of dew being a major factor in the game. The first round matches in Chittagong had taken many by surprise by how heavy the dew was to trouble the bowlers. England looked to have noted the dew issue in and made the bowlers practice with wet balls yesterday.