West Indies vs South Africa Prediction: West Indies clean swept South Africa in last T20 series

South Africa have flown south to take on West Indies. The two teams are going head to head at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, on the 24th of August, 2024, for Match 1 of the T20 Series. The last series played by these two teams was a T20 series where West Indies clean swept South Africa. Who will win this game of cricket?

Though the next T20 World Cup is three years away, West Indies have still seen fit to pick a squad based primarily on senior and fringe players, with the introduction of new blood largely by necessity rather than design. Of these 15, only Alick Athanaze and Matthew Forde would be seen to be vaguely green by T20I standards – between them, they have three caps. Though Andre Russell, Jason Holder, and Alzarri Joseph are missing, still a strong pace attack will be there with the likes of Obed McCoy and Romario Shepherd. Nicholas Pooran is in good form of late and Johnson Charles, who has been in brilliant form of late and certainly at the moment against South Africa, with scope for Shimron Hetmyer to redeem himself after a long time when he could not get a confirmed place into the lineup.

Johnson Charles, Alick Athanaze, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran(wk), Rovman Powell(c), Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Obed McCoy, Akeal Hosein

Several of their top players are either resting or taking part elsewhere in this T20I series, and a victory here could give South Africa's fringe players great confidence in their fledgling international careers. Only captain Aiden Markram, opening batter Reeza Hendricks, and promising talent Tristan Stubbs form part of the current series roster for the squad that almost upset India in June. Interestingly, it was Kwena Maphaka who hit the headlines winning the Player of the Tournament at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup, and he is likely to gain his first international cap in this competition. Rassie van der Dussen gives stability with the bat in any format of the game. Jason Smith, who impressed with his performance for Dolphins in the CSA T20 Challenge, is likely to have his debut in the middle order.

Aiden Markram, batted c, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs wk, Jason Smith, Wiaan Mulder, Ottneil Baartman, Lungi Ngidi, Bjorn Fortuin, Kwena Maphaka

While South Africa went one step ahead of West Indies in the 2024 T20 World Cup, the Caribbean team has risen impressively in bilateral T20I series of late. Moreover, South Africa is going to miss some of its key players from both the batting and bowling departments, so we see a home team win in this first match. We are backing West Indies for this match.