INTRODUCTION: After a successful tour in the Caribbean, the Proteas are currently in Ireland for a white ball series. South Africa won both the Test and T20I series against the Windies 2-0 and 3-2 respectively. It was their first T20 series win since Jan 2019, so South Africa will be high on confidence. On the other hand, Ireland come on the back of consecutive ODI series defeats against Afganistan and Netherlands and will be eager to get their white ball game back on track. These two sides will be playing 3 ODIs with each other followed by the same number of T20Is.
HEAD TO HEAD: Both these teams have faced off each other 5 times so far in ODIs with South Africa dominating all of them and they have a 100% record against the Irish men. Interestingly, these two teams have never played the shortest version of the game against each other. Even during the ICC events, they always found themselves in the opposite groups. This will be the first time these two will be battling each other in the T20 format.
KEY PLAYERS
South Africa: For the Proteas, Quinton De Kock is in sublime form as he contributed in all the five T20s against the Windies. He gave them quickfire starts in thei powerplay and finished as the leading run scorer in the series. He also scored a century and got out in the 90s in the test series. So, he might be a big threat for the inexperienced Irish bowlers with form on his side. Rassie Van der Dussen who had a quite tour against WI , is full of confidence and is eagerly waiting to score a lot of runs and spend more time at the crease . He has good experience in these sort of conditions as he has played in Belfast for six long years in the past. Tabraiz Shamsi was their man in the bowling department and was the Man of the Series. He picked up crucial wickets and also kept the run rate in check against the explosive Windies batsman. Spin has never been the favorite thing to deal with for the Ireland batters.
Ireland: Paul Stirling is one of the best batsman that Ireland have produced so far . Even when Ireland suffered consecutive losses in the ODIs this year, it was Stirling who was scoring the bulk of the runs. He's been scoring the big daddy hundreds for them this year .Despite considering that he is ageing, he is in the form of his life . In the bowling department, the retirement of Boyd Rankin and Kevin O'Brien was a huge loss for them and it made their bowling lineup even more inexperienced and vulnerable .With Dockrell as their only experienced bowler, they have to find a way to control the in-form De kock and Markram at the top of the order.
IN AND OUTS:
South Africa: Sisanda Magala has been ruled out from the tour. He suffered an ankle injury during a practice session. Beuran Hendricks has named as his replacement.
Ireland: Curtis Campher since his dream debut last year against England , has been on and off in their playing XI due to dip in form and fitness issues . He underwent a surgery recently in May and is now fully fit and available for this series.
SQUADS
South Africa
ODI & T20I- Temba Bavuma (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams.
Ireland
ODI- Andy Balbirnie (C), Mark Adair, Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Graham Kennedy, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Graeme McCarter, Barry McCarthy, William Porterfield, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Craig Young.
T20I- Andy Balbirnie (C), Mark Adair, George Dockrell, Shane Getkate, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, William McClintock, Kevin O’Brien, Neil Rock, Simi Singh, Paul Stirling, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Ben White, Craig Young.
CONCLUSION: One side is full of confidence while the another would like to erase the memory of the recent results which didn't go in their favor. They will face against each other for the very first time in T20s and after a long time in the ODIs. South Africa definitely have an upper hand but yet the Irish men would look to give them a strong fight.
PROBABLE PLAYING XI (1st ODI)
South Africa: De Kock (WK), Markram, T Bavuma (C), Van der Dussen, D Miller, G Linde, A Phehlukwayo, K Rabada, T Shamsi, A Nortje, L Ngidi
Ireland: P Stirling, W Porterfield, A Balbirnie (C), C Campher, L Tucker (WK), S Singh, G Dockrell, J Little, A McBrine, C Young, B McCarthy
DREAM 11 FANTASY TEAM (1st ODI)
SAFE XI: De Kock (C), P Stirling, A Balbirnie, Van der Dussen, C Campher, D Miller, S Singh, J Little, K Rabada (VC), T Shamsi, A Nortje
RISKY XI: P Stirling (C) A Markram, W Porterfield, T Bavumaa, L Tucker, D Miller, G Linde, G Dockrell, C Young, L Ngidi, T Shamsi (VC)
HOW, WHEN & WHERE TO WATCH: The entire ODI series will be played at The Village in Dublin. The first game of the T20I series too will be played at the same venue while the last two T20Is will be played at Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast. All of the ODI matches will be played at 11AM Local Time (3:30PM IST) on 11, 13 and 16 July respectively while the T20Is will be played at 3PM Local Time (7:30PM IST) on 20, 22 and 25 July respectively. The matches would be streamed live on the Fancode App (No Television Streaming) in India.
