Series: ICC World T20, 2016 Venue: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur Date & Time: Mar 25, 07:30 PM LOCAL
Gayle back to opening slot against Proteas
West Indies opener Chris Gayle is seen during a practice session on the
eve of the World T20 match against South Africa in Nagpur on Thursday.
T20 World Cup 2016
Gayle and Fletcher are expected to open the batting for West Indies with Johnson Charles moving down the order.
Chris Gayle will return to the top of the batting order
as West Indies look to continue their winning run and secure a
semifinal berth when they take on South Africa in the ICC World Twenty20
in Nagpur on Friday.
The big-hitting left-handed
opener was dropped down the order to number six in their previous match
against Sri Lanka after he pulled a hamstring while fielding.
The
West Indies, though, didn’t require Gayle’s services as they rode on
opener Andre Fletcher’s unbeaten 84 to register a seven-wicket victory
at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
It was the
West Indies’ second win of the tournament after a Gayle century, which
included 11 sixes, inspired them to a six-wicket triumph over England in
their opening match.
The former champions are on top
of Group 1 on four points and a defeat of South Africa in Nagpur would
see them become the second team to qualify for the last four, after New
Zealand.
Gayle and Fletcher are expected to open the batting for West Indies with Johnson Charles moving down the order.
“I’ve
opened the batting with him on many occasions so I know what sort of a
player he is, he is very dangerous and he’s capable of getting big
scores as well,” Gayle said of Fletcher.
With just a
win from two outings, South Africa desperately needs a victory to
bolster their prospects of reaching the semifinals.
After
the stunning loss to England, who chased down a record 230-run target,
South Africa beat minnows Afghanistan to be placed precariously in third
spot, two points behind England.
If South Africa
fails to beat the Windies then England would be in pole position to
qualify from the group going into the last round-robin game.
The
Proteas’ preparations were dealt a blow after all-rounder JP Duminy was
ruled out of the match with a hamstring injury he picked up in the
37-run win over Afghanistan on Sunday.
The right-arm
spinner, who bats left-handed, has scored 83 runs in two matches without
being dismissed, and also took 1-31 in the loss to England.
“JP
is a big player for us. Not having him is a big blow and does upset the
balance of the side,” South Africa coach Russell Domingo said.
In
Duminy’s absence, South Africa will include Aaron Phangiso to
complement the leg spin of Imran Tahir with the wicket in Nagpur likely
to suit spinners.
Teams (from):
South Africa:
Faf du Plessis (captain), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien,
Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Imran Tahir, Chris Morris, David
Miller, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, David
Wiese.
West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain),
Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Braithwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson
Charles, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Denesh
Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Evin Lewis.
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