South Africa T20 League

26th Match: PC vs MICT

Preview

PC and MICT will lock horns for the 26th match of the South Africa T20 League 2023. The match will be played at The SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium, Centurion, South Africa on Saturday, 04 February at 09:00 PM IST. A cracker of battle awaits between the table toppers Pretoria and the 5th-placed Cape Town. PC currently has 23 points in the 7 matches that the side has played, including 5 wins and 2 losses. Whereas, MICT has 13 points in the 8 matches that the side has played, including 3 wins and 5 losses. 

The second bottom side MICT will play a match against DSG before they come to Centurion to face the PC. MI will start as favorites against the bottom-placed DSG.

The result of the match would affect their odds against the table toppers PC. MICT has won only 1 of their last 4 games. The win came against PR defending a 142-run total.

The current leader in charge PC, on the other hand, has won both of its games at Centurion so far. The left-arm bowler Parnell’s team played their last match in Cape Town against MICT and emerged victorious. An all-round performance from the Capitals handed them a 52-run win over MICT. 

The Likes of Nortje, Parnell and Adil Rashid will be the key players with the ball for PC. Dewald Brewis, Sam Curran, and Rassie van der Dussen are the star players in the MICT camp to watch out for.

There are 3 more matches left in the league stage for PC and all of them will be played in Centurion. Experts predict a home advantage for the table toppers as they face a desperate MI in their 3rd home game of the season. 

Parnell and co. have been exceptional at this venue. In their first home game of the season, PC posted a 216-run total batting first. They followed it up with a bowling masterclass as they bowled out JSK for 122 runs.

Nortje, Adil Rashid, and skipper Parnell have been consistent with the ball and will be the key players in this game. The Kiwi all-rounder Neesham is also a handy contributor with the ball. And though he may not get to bowl a 4-over spell, the Kiwi all-rounder can deliver a breakthrough. 

The Lankan batter Kusal Mendis has replaced Phil Salt as the opening partner for Will Jacks in the last couple of games. He has scored at decent strike rates expected of an opener in the powerplay. However, the Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batter has failed to convert his starts. The middle order features Theunis de Bruyn and Rilee Rossouw. 

The latter is one of the best hitters in T20 cricket while Theunis has shown his potential with few good knocks this season. The duo all-rounders Parnell and Neesham can be the finishers in the lower order. Overall, it is a well-balanced side with some promising and in-form players in every department.

All eyes should be on the MICT vs DSG match before Rashid Khan and co. travel to Centurion for this match. Khan led his team to a 13-run win while defending a below-par total against PR. He was the most economical with the ball with 1 for 16 from 4 overs.

Rashid Khan continued his form in the next match as he finished with 3 for 16 against PC  in Cape Town. While other key bowlers like Rabada, Archer and Sam Curran have been expensive, Rashid can spin his way to the finals.

MICT need to win each of their remaining matches to stay in contention for the playoffs. The bowling attack looks solid on paper and now needs to deliver on the ground as well.

The carbon copy of AB De Villiers, Dewald Brewis will be a key batter at the top. Rickelton has been inconsistent and if he finds his form, MICT can get off to a flying start. And that would change everything. The middle order of Rassie van der Dussen, Sam Curran, and George Linde can build a great total if the foundation is laid right. In the lower order, Odeon Smith and Rashid Khan can come in handy with their power-hitting skills.

Match Details

Match: PC vs MICT, 26th Match, South Africa T20 League

Date: Saturday, February 04, 2023

Time: 09:00 PM

Venue: The SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium, Centurion, South Africa

Pitch & Weather Report

The SuperSport Park Cricket Stadium is excellent for batting and there has already been a 200+ score this season. The ball comes nicely onto the bat and batters can easily play their strokes all around the park. This venue has been fixed for this match. PC will play all of their remaining matches on this ground. The average 1st innings score in domestic T20s at this venue is 160+ runs. However, a winning total would be something above 180-185 runs. 

Teams batting second have won 28 of the 44 domestic T20s played at the Supersport Park Cricket Stadium. There are some big hitters in both teams and the captains can rely on them in a run chase. Moreover, the expensive spells from MICT's key bowlers make them less reliable for defending a total on this ground.

The maximum temperature will remain at 25°C, with a low of 17°C with 72% humidity, and a light wind speed of 11 Km/hr for the 26th SA T20 match on Feb 04 between PC and MICT. Some rain is expected in Kingsmead on the morning of the match day, with a 40% chance of precipitation.

PC vs MICT Squads

PC: Kusal Mendis (wk), Wayne Parnell (c), Will Jacks, Theunis de Bruyn, Rilee Rossouw, Shane Dadswell, James Neesham, Eathan Bosch, Senuran Muthusamy, Adil Rashid, Anrich Nortje, Philip Salt, Cameron Delport, Shaun von Berg, Daryn Dupavillon, Marco Marais, Migael Pretorius

MICT: Grant Roelofsen (wk), Rashid Khan (c), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Sam Curran, Rassie van der Dussen, George Linde, Delano Potgieter, Odean Smith, Jofra Archer, Kagiso Rabada, Olly Stone, Liam Livingstone, Ziyaad Abrahams, Waqar Salamkheil, Wesley Marshall, Duan Jansen, Beuran Hendricks

PC vs MICT: Probable XIs

PC: Kusal Mendis (wk), Will Jacks, Rilee Rossouw, Theunis de Bruyn, Clyde Fortuin, James Neesham, Senuran Muthusamy, Wayne Parnell (c), Eathan Bosch, Adil Rashid, Anrich Nortje

MICT: Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Grant Roelofsen (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Sam Curran, George Linde, Delano Potgieter, Rashid Khan (c), Odean Smith, Jofra Archer, Kagiso Rabada

Match Prediction

The MICT vs DSG game can change the odds for Rashid Khan and co. But as of now, the scales are tilted in favour of the home side. There are some amazing bowlers in the MICT squad. If they come good, MICT will be on top. The home team has been on top of their game and their top 4 batters have consistently delivered. The skipper has been in great shape with the ball and is well-supported by other key bowlers. We say table toppers PC to win this match and continue their dominance in the league.

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