Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, T20 World Cup records & stats ahead of Match 45, England vs South Africa

Unbeaten South Africa (SA) will take on the defending champions England (ENG) in their next Super Eight match in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Both teams started their Super 8 campaigns with wins over USA and West Indies, respectively. 

Pacer Saurabh Netravalkar continued his brilliance at the tournament putting South Africa in trouble early, but Quinton de Kock scored an aggressive fifty with Aiden Markram for company as the American bowlers were being taken apart. Harmeet Singh provided respite with his twin-strikes, and it looked like USA were pulling the game back when Netravalkar saw the back of Markram in the 15th over. But Heinrich Klaasen struck timely blows to ensure South Africa reached an above-par total to put South Africa in the driver's seat.

In the run chase, Steven Taylor started with timely boundaries while his opening partner Andries Gous hung around. Taylor's dismissal by Kagiso Rabada brought on a phase where USA lost five wickets for 43 runs within a span of 46 balls. It looked over for USA until Harmeet Singh put on a show with the bat that invigorated Andries Gous as well, the pair put on 91 in 7 overs making an absolute match out of it. Rabada returned to dismiss Harmeet when USA needed 28 runs off 12 balls, and that derailed the Americans once again as they couldn't cross the finish line after a brilliant 19th over from Rabada left them with too much to do in the last over. 

England underscored their status as defending champions after having the better of co-hosts West Indies at this very ground. Brandon King came out all guns blazing but had to leave the field after retiring hurt. That inspired an Adil Rashid-led phase for England where they had Johnson Charles and Nicholas Pooran tied down severely until both of them went down trying to up the tempo.

On a very good batting surface, Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford gave the final push that did put West Indies at a par total. Phil Salt and Jos Buttler started slightly mildly, and England ended up losing their way in the middle overs before an out-of-form Jonny Bairstow set out to rebuild with Salt for company. While Bairstow did most of the heavy lifting, the decisive moment in the game came when Phil Salt tore Romario Shepherd apart for 30 runs in an over, paving the way for England to end the co-hosts' winning streak.

Daren Sammy Stadium Pitch Report:

This stadium has been the best surface for batters in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 edition, and both teams finally got to unleash their full potential with the bat in their last matches. So this will ultimately be a bat vs bat contest with the runs flowing around.

 T20I Stats and Records at Daren Sammy Stadium:

Speaking of the 22 matches played at this venue, 11 each have been won by the team batting first and batting second, respectively. Notably, the average first innings total at this ground is 166 runs. 

England vs South Africa Strategies & Match-ups:

England's batting has been on the more inconsistent front barring Phil Salt, while Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada have been enjoying the tournament so far. South Africa's batting came into its own against USA, while England have been wayward at best. These are the main factors to be taken into consideration during this contest that promises to box office. 

The important matchups for this match are- Jos Buttler vs Kagiso Rabada, Phil Salt vs Anrich Nortje, Quinton de Kock vs Jofra Archer, and Heinrich Klaasen vs Adil Rashid.

Player Battles to Watch Out For:

Jos Buttler vs Kagiso Rabada:

England's skipper Jos Buttler has had a successful result against most South African bowlers, and his tussles against Rabada haven't been much different. Without being dismissed at a strike rate of 180, Buttler has scored 36 runs in 20 balls against Rabada.

Check Here: T20 World Cup 2024 Most Runs

Heinrich Klaasen vs Adil Rashid:

The reputation of a fearsome spin hitter in T20 cricket is well reflected in Heinrich Klaasen's record against the English leggie. At a strike rate of 154.17, Klaasen has scored 37 runs off 24 balls of Rashid's bowling while being dismissed once at an average of 37. Adil Rashid has been instrumental in this England bowling attack, and Klaasen will have the defining role of unsettling him.

Check Here: T20 World Cup 2024 Most Wickets

X-Factors for England vs South Africa:

England:

Phil Salt has been enjoying a good run in the tournament, especially after winning Player of the Match against West Indies and will look to continue that good form at the same ground. 

South Africa:

South Africa's bowling, especially Anrich Nortje has been the defining factor for them in this World Cup, and he will have to carry his good form by dismantling England's batting which runs very deep.