We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report
The average first and second innings scores in the last three games in the English T20 League read 188 and 133. Two of three games were won by the team batting first. Given the heatwave in England, the pitches have not been favourable for the bowlers.
Teams
Probable XI for England: Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Wyatt, Natalie Sciver, Heather Knight (c), Amy Jones (wk), Maia Bouchier, Bryony Smith, Sophie Ecclestone, Katherine Brunt, Issy Wong, Sarah Glenn
Marizanne Kapp and Tumi Sekhukhune have been ruled out of the series due to injuries.
Probable XI for South Africa: Anneke Bosch, Lara Goodall, Sune Luus (c), Laura Wolvaardt, Mignon du Preez, Chloe Tryon, Delmi Tucker, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klaas, Ayabonga Khaka
Power Players
Laura Wolvaardt was the lone warrior for South Africa in the opening T20I. 9 of 11 batters walked back for a single-digit score. It was Laura’s 55 off 49 that kept the scorecard ticking. This was her third consecutive fifty on the tour.
For her terrific bowling figures of 4 for 15, Katherine Brunt was given the Player of the Match award. She took two wickets in the powerplay and two at the death. The three-for in the final ODI seemed to have worked wonders for her lost confidence.
Sophie Dunkley’s last three scores against South Africa in white-ball cricket read 107, 51, and 59. Her form in this English summer has been stupendous. In the Women’s Invitational League, she scored 263 runs at a strike rate of 153, including the highest score of 123*.
Sophie Ecclestone, the No. 1 bowler in ICC T20I Rankings, did what she does best. She picked 2 for 27 – one of which came at the death.
Smart Picks
Ayabonga Kaka’s lean patch seems to be going away. She followed her two-for in the final ODI with an impressive three-wicket haul in the opening T20I. All three wickets were clean-bowled – one of which was that of Natalie Sciver.
Heather Knight’s 24* off 18 was her fifth unbeaten score against South Africa in the format. Her overall average is 36 against them in 12 games.
Before the three-ball duck, Lara Goodall’s last T20I two scores read 52 and 48, against Ireland last month. Brunt darted one in and dismantled the in-form Lara’s defence with a peach of a delivery.
In the absence of Kapp in the middle order, Mignon du Plessis will have to up the ante. She is a veteran of 109 T20Is and 1,754 runs. South Africa need her expertise to scale up the run rate in the middle overs.
After her 93 at Dublin a month ago, Sune Luus has three single-digit scores and a duck in international cricket. Worse still, she has not bowled in the last four games. Her performance at No.3 is crucial for her team. The experienced batter needs some time in the middle to regain her confidence.
Nat Sciver did not contribute significantly with the bat, but her solitary wicket, a catch, and a run-out kept the fantasy players interested.
Match Preview
South Africa have lost four games on the trot on the tour. Their overall performance in T20Is against England is not encouraging either, losing 16 of 20 games. With the injuries to two major players, they seem to be in a spot of bother. England, on the other hand, have been putting up collective performances.
Time: July 23, 7 PM IST