South Africa v New Zealand 2nd ODI preview: AB de Villiers & Co. look to seal series in Potchefstroom

South Africa v New Zealand 2nd ODI preview: AB de Villiers & Co. look to seal series in Potchefstroom: What was expected to be a carnival like thriller ended up rather like a low-key battle. We are talking about the 1^st ODI between South Africa and New Zealand, that the hosts managed to win quite comprehensively. But as expected the effect of the depleted Kiwi side completely got reflected in the outcome as well as the excitement level of the 1st ODI match.

Though South Africa won the match by 20 runs but yet they seemed dominant throughout the game. The South African’s played like they normally do when they play in their home conditions. And it was not any World Cup match as well so the same players such as Vernon Philander and Farhaan Behardien who faltered in the World Cup marquee clash against Black Caps seemed to be back at their best with relaxed body language. The same Behardien who had dropped a simple running catch in the final moments of the showdown match in World Cup took a brilliant running catch in the 1^st ODI in the outfield which signifies that AB and his men have left behind the scars of the heart-breaking loss of World Cup semi-final.

As far as New Zealand team is concerned their bowling was largely ineffective. They were missing their key bowlers in face of Trent Boult and Tim Southee. Mitchell McClenaghan was way too expensive while the two spinner theory also didn’t work out for Kane Williamson. In this match it’s more likely that either Matt Henry or Doug Bracewell will play in place of the leggie Ish Sodhi.

Martin Guptill who had injured his hand while fielding in 1^st ODI is likely to feature in the match as MRI scans revealed that he has no serious injury. The inexperienced Kiwi batting line-up would look to come out of the shadow of Kane Williamson on whom the team is overly-dependent which once again got exposed in the 1^st match. The likes of Martin Guptill and Grant Elliott will have to fire to support Kane Williamson while the likes of Luke Ronchi and Jimmy Neesham will play a paramount role in the back end of the innings.

As for South Africa their batting looks compact and with Hashim Amla coming back to form they will certainly look to carry on the winning momentum. The pitch at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom is likely to play flat. And it would not be as fast as the other African pitches and is expected to play slow. It is likely that there would be light breeze and cloudless skies. The tickets are sold-out and the jam-packed crowd at Senwes Park which will be hosting an international game after gap of 2 years would love to see a batting master-piece by South Africa’s favorite son AB de Villiers. While the wicket-keeper batsman Morne van Wyk who has been drafted in place of Quinton de Kock would like to make a serious impact with the bat to present his case to the selectors.

The Proteas bowling also looks settled with Imran Tahir at his impeccable best while Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander are looking good with the white cherry after their slump of form in the World Cup 2015. The South African skipper De Villiers had openly expressed his disappointment with the energy level of the team on the field. Fielding is an area with which the Proteas side attaches a lot of pride. So they would certainly want to impress their captain after some sloppy fielding lapses in the previous encounter.

Probable XI

South Africa: Morne van Wyk (wk), Hashim Amla, Rilee Rossouw, AB de Villiers (c), David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, David Wiese, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir.

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (c), Colin Munro, Grant Elliott, Jimmy Neesham, Luke Ronchi (wk), Nathan McCullum, Matt Henry/Doug Bracewell, Mitchell McClenagahan, Adam Milne.