South Africa will aim to seal three-match T20I series Thursday when they face West Indies in the second game at SuperSport Park, Centurion. After a dominant performance in the opening match, the hosts will be full of confidence and will want to wrap things up early, while the visitors will face a must win to stay alive in the series.
In the first T20I in Paarl, South Africa, he controlled almost the entire territory. Aiden Markram’s decision to elect to bowl first after winning the toss paid off quickly as the West Indies batted for pace. The visitors were reduced to 95 for five in the 12th over before Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell and stand-in skipper Roston Chase added some precious lower-order runs to climb to a total of 173 for seven.
However, this score was significantly lower than the overnight figure. South Africa’s top order came on fire and made the chase look comfortable, reaching almost half of the target inside the power plays. After Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ quick 44, Markram and Ryan Rickelton calmly led the team home, with the skipper finishing unbeaten on 86.
West Indies will be hoping for the return of their regular captain Shai Umid can lift the side, but they need a sharper all-round performance to trouble a confident South African unit.
SA vs WI, 2nd T20I: Match Details
- Date and Time: January 29 (Thursday); 21:30 IST / 16:00 GMT / 18:00 local
- Location: SuperSport Park, Centurion
SA vs WI Head to Head Record in T20Is
Matches played: 27 | West Indies Won: 14 | South Africa won by: 13 | No result: 0
SuperSport Park Pitch Report
SuperSport Park has long had a reputation as a corpse-friendly venue where ball timing feels useful and runs come quickly. The pitch usually offers real bounce and good pace, allowing batsmen to play their shots with confidence once they settle. In addition to the scoring potential, there are relatively short boundaries that often turn well-timed shots into boundaries and high totals into the overall picture. Fast bowlers can still have a say early on, especially with the new ball, as the opening often offers some action.
As the match progresses, the surface tends to slow down a bit, bringing the spinners into play and forcing the batters to adjust their approach. The dew factor can also become a major element in night games, especially in the second innings, making life difficult for bowlers trying to catch the ball. While first innings totals of 180 or more are considered competitive, running under lights at SuperSport Park remains a realistic and attractive option for teams.
Groups
West Indies: Brandon King, Johnson Charles (wk), Matthew Forde, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph, Quentin Sampson, Shai Hope (c), Gudakesh Motie
South Africa: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Dewald Brevis, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Quinton de Kock, Lungi Ngidi, Ericathan Tribbs, Anrich Jan Tribbs.
Also READ: South Africa registered a record win over West Indies in the T20I series opener at Paarl
SA vs WI, 1st T20I: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- South Africa win the toss first
- West Indies powerplay score: 45-50 (6 overs)
- West Indies total score: 160-170
Case 2:
- West Indies win the toss first
- South Africa powerplay score: 50-55 (6 overs)
- South Africa total score: 170-180
Match result: Second stroke to win the tram race.
Also READ: West Indies announce squad for T20 World Cup 2026, no place for Evin Lewis
