ICC T20 World Cup 2021: South Africa Can Beat England, Says Morne Morkel
Published - 06 Nov 2021, 01:45 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:00 AM
Former South Africa pace bowler Morne Morkel said that South African bowlers will have to perform their best to win against a formidable England team.
Despite going down to Australia in a narrow defeat in the opening game, South Africa has bounced back with three successive wins in Group 1 of the T20 World Cup.
The proteas are still a win away from sealing their berth in the semi-final stage, and they will be up against Eoin Morgan and his men, who are unbeaten in the tournament.
South Africa can beat England: Morne Morkel
Morkel, who played 44 T20 International matches for South Africa, feels the Proteas can get the better of England in the coming match.
“South Africa can beat England. The Sharjah wicket will suit the Proteas and after winning a close game against Sri Lanka they will have a good understanding of conditions,” Morkel wrote in his column for ICC.
The bowling attack is certainly the Proteas’ strength: Morne Morkel
South Africa’s pace duo of Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada have shared 13 wickets in the tournament between them so far, and they will be the key for them against the in-depth batting line-up of England.
Morkel feels South Africa’s new-ball pair can topple the England top-order and help the team seal a place in semis.
“The bowling attack is certainly the Proteas’ strength and I believe they can bowl us into the semifinals,” Morkel mentioned.
“If South Africa’s top bowlers can fire, they can really rattle the England top order,” he added.
Australia will be the other team in contention given their superior net run-rate to South Africa on the points table, Aaron Finch and his men will hold the upper hand.
Morkel feels that the fate of Group 2 will be determined by the outputs of both the matches on Saturday.
“It’s a must-win game for South Africa against England on Saturday but the West Indies vs Australia is also going to have massive ramifications, with net run-rates potentially coming into play,” Morkel said.
Australia vs West Indies match will be staged first in Abu Dhabi, followed by England’s clash against Temba Bavuma-led side in Sharjah on Friday.
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