Match preview: South Africa v West Indies

Venue
The SCG, Sydney
Team news
South Africa are not happy campers coming into this match at the SCG, despite having a winning track record against the West Indies, given they lost heavily to India and have some injury concerns, hence their recent drop in odds.
The Proteas have lost the services of fast bowler Vernon Philander for two games, after he picked up a hamstring niggle in the 130-run defeat to India, while JP Duminy is waiting to be cleared before the game with a side strain.
If both players are out, this could mean both Wayne Parnell, who went for 85 runs in nine overs against India, and Farhaan Behardien, who has made little impact so far, could play in the same line-up. The number seven conundrum has become worse.
The Proteas will need their bowlers to be in top form for this clash, despite winning the ODI series against the Windies with ease in January, as Chris Gayle is emphatically back in form. His 215 against Zimbabwe came at the worst time for the Proteas.
As he showed in SA, when Gayle gets going he can demolish the like of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, and after his efforts earlier in the week, he will be riding a wave of confidence. He did not train much in the week, to protect his lower back.
The Windies are still without batsman Darren Bravo though, after his hamstring injury against Pakistan, and Jonathan Carter is set to continue to deputise.
The Proteas need to win this game to keep their next round hopes fully firing. They won't be out if they lose, but it will make the next round significantly trickier, and put pressure on them for their next three matches.
Last encounter
The sides met as recently as a month ago, where the Proteas won the fifth ODI by 131 runs in Centurion. That game saw Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla score centuries as the Proteas racked up 361, before Parnell bagged four wickets and the Windies were all out for 230. Gayle was out for a first ball duck in that game, a fate he is likely to avoid at the SCG.
World Cup meetings
The sides were also grouped together in 2011, where they met in Delhi and the Proteas won by seven wickets. Imran Tahir was the strike bowler there, taking four wickets in the face of Darren Bravo's 73. AB de Villiers' unbeaten ton saw the side home.
In 2007 they met in the Super Eights round, and again the Proteas were the winners. They racked up 356 with an AB ton, and fifties from three others, before Graeme Smith surprised everyone by taking two wickets and the Windies were all out for 289.
Key players
It's the usual suspects here The Windies will obviously be putting their faith in Gayle again, now that he has some massive runs in the bank, though if he fails they'll have to look lower down the order to Marlon Samuels and Lendl Simmons – a substantially tipped duo with Paddy Power.
The Proteas need their top order to fire, and like Gayle was under pressure, so is Hashim Amla. this could be the game that breaks his drought, given his excellent run against the Windies earlier in the year, where he made two centuries and two fifties in four knocks.
Umpires
Ian Gould and Steve Davis, Ranmore Martinesz (3rd umpire), Roshan Mahanama (match referee)
Weather
Oh dear, this game could be heavily affected by rain as it's forecast to rain for much of the morning. While it's set to clear up by lunchtime, it could still prove a nuisance, and if it's reduced to a T20 the Windies will be pleased.
Prediction
Depending on the weather, this could be tricky. One imagines the Proteas will pull it out of the hat if the game stays long enough, but if shortened dramatically, the men in maroon have a much better track record. Still, let's go with SA, based on recent history.
Latest
-
News
Stephen Eskinazi stars in record-breaking Middlesex win over Gloucestershire
Paul Stirling made the first century of the Vitality Blast season for Birmingham Bears.
-
News
Ollie Robinson’s England hopes scuppered by back problem
The seamer was plagued by persistent back issues during the Ashes series and missed all three matches against the West Indies.
-
News
Justin Langer blames politics for Australia exit and laughs off England links
Langer was linked with one of the two vacant posts with England.
-
News
He deserves to be there – England’s Matthew Potts backed to shine in Test arena
Potts has received his first international call-up for the squad to face New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2.
-
News
On this day in 2015: Trevor Bayliss appointed England head coach
The Australian leapfrogged initial front-runner Jason Gillespie to replace the sacked Peter Moores.
-
News
Andrew Strauss sets five-year goal for England men’s side to rule all formats
The former England captain and director of cricket is overseeing a high performance review into English cricket.
-
News
Shane Warne to be remembered during England’s Test with New Zealand at Lord’s
The former player and TV pundit died aged 52 on March 4 after a suspected heart attack.
-
News
Sport moves fast – Ben Compton goes from relative unknown to England contention
The opener is averaging a spectacular 109.75 after amassing 878 LV= Insurance County Championship runs.
-
News
Dom Sibley can show he is England’s ‘best opener’ says team-mate Michael Burgess
The Warwickshire pair are part of a County Select XI that will face New Zealand in Chelmsford on Thursday.
-
County Cricket
Warwickshire chief executive insists The Hundred and Vitality Blast can coexist
Questions have been raised after reports of slow ticket sales for the Blast.