Picking a combined United States-South Africa playing 11 for 2024 T20 World Cup ft. Monank Patel, Anrich Nortje
United States will take on South Africa in the first match of the Super 8 round of the ICC Men's 2024 T20 World Cup at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua on Wednesday, June 19. The Group 2 match will begin at 8:00 PM IST and 10:30 AM local time.
The USA made an unexpected entry into the Super 8 round, winning two of their three matches in Group A. They hammered Canada by seven wickets in the tournament opener in Dallas. In their second match, they came up with an excellent effort to tie the match against Pakistan, clinching the game in the Super over. A washout against Ireland in Florida confirmed their Super 8 berth.
The Proteas won all their four matches in Group D albeit not in convincing fashion. They began with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka and registered four-wicket triumphs over Netherlands and Bangladesh. Nepal gave them a massive scare, but South Africa sneaked home to a one-run win.
Ahead of the United States vs South Africa Super 8 match, we pick a combined XI of the two sides based on their 2024 T20 World Cup form.
Openers: Reeza Hendricks, Monank Patel (c)
South Africa's Reeza Hendricks would open the batting with USA skipper Monank Patel in the combined XI for the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Proteas have struggled in the batting department and Hendricks too registered single-figure scores in the first three matches. He, however, contributed a crucial 43 off 49 against Nepal.
Monank was the Player of the Match in USA's historic win over Pakistan. In a chase of 160, he hit 50 off 38 balls, slamming seven fours and a six. The knock went a long way in United States managing to tie the contest, which they went on to win in the Super Over.
Middle-order: Andries Gous, Aaron Jones, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (wk)
Andries Gous played crucial roles in United States' triumphs over Canada and Pakistan. He scored 65 off 46 against Canada, slamming seven fours and three sixes. In the match against Pakistan, he contributed 35 off 26 balls, adding 68 for the second wicket with skipper Monank.
USA's Aaron Jones also finds a place in the combined XI on the back of some impressive batting performances. He was the standout batter in the win over Canada, clobbering 94* off only 40 balls, hitting four fours and 10 sixes. In the match against Pakistan, Jones came up with a crucial contribution of 36*.
The South African duo of David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen would be crucial components of the middle-order in the combined XI. Miller lifted the Proteas to victory from a precarious position in the match against Netherlands, returning unbeaten on 59 off 51. He also chipped in with 29 versus Bangladesh.
Hard-hitting keeper-batter Klaasen contributed 19* in a nervous chase against Sri Lanka. Against Bangladesh, he was the Player of the Match for his 46 off 44 balls, a knock that featured two fours and three sixes. Klaasen helped the Proteas recover from a disastrous start.
Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Saurabh Netravalkar, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje
United States' left-arm pacer Saurabh Netravalkar features in the combined playing XI for the 2024 T20 World Cup. The rest of the bowling line-up is made up of South African players - Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje being the pacers and Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi the two left-arm spinners.
Rabada impressed with figures of 2-21 against Sri Lanka and 2-19 against Bangladesh. While he went wicketless in South Africa's other two group games, he was economical. Nortje has been exceptional after a forgettable IPL. The speedster claimed 4-7 against Sri Lanka, 2-19 against Netherlands, 2-17 against Bangladesh and 1-27 versus Nepal.
United States' Netravalkar would add variety to the bowling department in the combined XI with his left-arm pace. The 32-year-old registered identical figures of 2-18 against both Pakistan and India.
Shifting focus to the spin department, Maharaj has done an excellent job. He starred with 2-22 against South Africa and 3-27 against Bangladesh. As for Shamsi, he came in for the game against Nepal and made an immediate impact, claiming 4-19 in South Africa's one-run win.