In New Delhi, on February 17, South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, has already achieved significant success. With three victories in as many games, including a dominant win over Afghanistan in a double Super Over, their qualification for the Super Eights is confirmed.
However, the Proteas team is unlikely to treat their final Group D match against the spirited United Arab Emirates (UAE), scheduled for Wednesday morning at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, as a mere formality. Instead, their focus will be on achieving their fourth consecutive win, which will further strengthen their position in the Super Eights.
South Africa's victories have been equally impressive – against New Zealand, they delivered a near-flawless performance. Marco Jansen dominated the New Zealand batting lineup, taking 4-40, while Lungi Ngidi continued to maintain a strong bowling presence. Kagiso Rabada, who is steadily regaining his form, also contributed effectively.
Captain Aiden Markram has also played a crucial role in the Proteas' success, providing strong support to the batting lineup. His aggressive innings of 50 in 19 balls set the tone, and his unbeaten 86 in 44 deliveries, the second-best individual score in the tournament, further solidified their position.
Besides Markram, South Africa's strength lies in the contributions of other batters, particularly Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton, who have provided explosive starts throughout the group stage. David Miller and Tristan Stubbs have also stepped up when needed.
South Africa's overall run rate of 10.1 is the highest in the tournament, indicating a strong and consistent batting performance. Against the UAE, they will aim to maintain this level of performance.
South Africa's bowling attack, led by Corbin Bosch, is also a key strength. Bosch's ability to bowl economically in the death overs makes him a valuable asset. The Proteas' attack offers variety and control, which is highly desirable.
Meanwhile, the UAE has won one of its three matches, which effectively eliminates them from the group stage. However, the UAE has shown the potential to compete against stronger teams, as evidenced by their close contest against Afghanistan on Monday.
One of the UAE's emerging stars is Sohaib Khan. He has scored 126 runs in three innings, making him the top run-scorer for the UAE in this edition of the T20 World Cup. He is the first UAE player to score two fifties in a single tournament, and has also hit nine sixes, more than any other UAE player. Sohaib's performance will be crucial against South Africa's strong bowling attack.
However, the UAE's success will depend on the contributions of other players, including Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Waseem, Alishan Sharafu, and Aryansh Sharma. The UAE's spinners will also need to contribute to their team's success.
Both teams will be closely monitoring the weather conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Wednesday, predicting light to moderate rain in the forenoon and afternoon.
Despite the UAE's potential, South Africa is the clear favorite to win. The Proteas will aim to end the group stage on a high note, setting the stage for their campaign in the Super Eights.
Match Details:
Date: Wednesday, February 18
Time: 11:00 AM IST
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Broadcasting: Star Sports Network
Streaming: JioHotstar
