FANTASY
Follow UsEngland will take on South Africa in Match 39 of the T20 World Cup 2021 at Sharjah on Saturday (November 6). England (NRR +3.183) are all but through to the semifinals and the battle for that one remaining spot from Group 1 is now between South Africa (+0.742) and Australia (+1.031). Australia currently have the advantage, thanks to their massive win over Bangladesh.
Suggested teams
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Ground details and team combination
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium has hosted seven games so far in the Super 12 stage and the batters here have scored runs at an average of 22.5 - lowest among all three venues. They have scored runs at a strike rate of 125.3, which is the highest among all three venues used in the Super 12 stage. Meanwhile, a wicket has fallen every 18 deliveries. If you compare them with seamers, spinners here have a way better average (18.9 v 30.1) and strike rate (16.8 v 23.2). So, it would be ideal to have both Adil Rashid and Tabraiz Shamsi in your team.
Captain
It’s difficult to look past Jos Buttler while picking your captain. The wicketkeeper-batter has smashed 214 runs in fours innings and has only been dismissed once in this tournament. Buttler started the competition with scores of 24* and 18 and then smacked 71* against Australia. However, it was against Sri Lanka where he was at his absolute best. The right-handed opener hit 101* off 67 deliveries and became the first all-format centurion for England. On top of that, he also has a solid record against Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada in this format.
Our Criclytics Player Projections predict Buttler to score 38-58 runs.
X-factors
Adil Rashid has been in outstanding form of late and the legspinner could make an impact at Sharjah. The spinners have done well here and Rashid will surely enjoy bowling on this surface. In T20Is this year, Shamsi has claimed 21 wickets in 14 games at an average of 16.1 and a strike rate of 14.4. In this tournament, Rashid has taken seven wickets at 10.71.
Our Criclytics Player Projections predict Rashid to take 0-1 wicket.
Anrich Nortje has impressed everyone with his pace and control. The tearaway paceman has claimed eight wickets in four encounters at an average of 8.75 and a strike rate of 11.5. Playing for Delhi Capitals, he was also impressive in the second half of IPL 2021 in the UAE and is now doing the same for his country.
Our Criclytics Player Projections predict Nortje to take 2-3 wickets.
Aiden Markram was dismissed for a duck against Bangladesh but he is still South Africa’s leading run-scorer in this tournament. The stylish right-hander has scored 110 runs in four innings at an average of 36.66 and a strike rate of 127.90. Markram is the only South African batter to score more than 500 runs in this format in 2021. And, if needed, he can also chip in with his offspin.
Our Criclytics Player Projections predict Markram to score 16-24 runs.
Predicted XIs
England - Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (wk), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid. David Willey/Reece Topley.
South Africa - Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.