Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has predicted an England win in their 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 clash against South Africa. The two sides will play against each other in a Group 2 game in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, on Friday, June 21. However, both teams won their respective Super 8 games as well. While England registered a comfortable eight-wicket win against the West Indies, South Africa weren’t as convincing in their 18-run victory against the USA.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “I am saying England will win this match. Why won’t they win? England are coming after playing good cricket. They defeated the West Indies and will win this match as well. If England win this match, they will almost qualify, because I am assuming the USA will lose to all teams. England destroyed the West Indies. The West Indies didn’t make as many runs as they should have and when England got to bat, Phil Salt thrashed them. I have expectations from Phil Salt once again that he will continue to bat well. He has Jos Buttler with him. Moeen Ali is being used well.”
“Jonny Bairstow was sent up the order and he also played freely in the last match. So depth in batting is being seen and a lot of options in bowling, whether you talk about Mark Wood or Adil Rashid. You can get Liam Livingstone to bowl and Sam Curran bowls a couple of overs. So there are plenty of options,” he again shared.
However, he also expects Phil Salt to continue his destructive form against the Proteas as well. Chopra also stated that the defending champions have immense batting depth and stunning bowling options. England used seven bowlers against the West Indies. Aakash Chopra also added that South Africa need either Quinton de Kock or Reeza Hendricks to step up as well.
“South Africa, on the other hand, won with great difficulty against the USA. Quinton de Kock scored runs but Reeza Hendricks is not scoring runs at all. When two wickets fell off two balls, you were suddenly stuck. If things go fine, they are a 180-190 team for sure but for that one of the openers has to fire. They will have to see whether they should play (Ottniel) Baartman, or both Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj, because they didn’t play Baartman in the last match. Both Tabraiz and Keshav have good numbers against England, but will they be able to play both, that’s the big question for Team South Africa,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
