Win Projections to be updated soon
As South Africa prepares to face Nepal in their final Group A match of the T20 World Cup 2024, Kagiso Rabada has highlighted the challenge posed by Nepal’s ‘mystery spinner’ Sandeep Lamichhane. The match, set for Saturday, June 15, at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, St Vincent, could be pivotal for both teams, especially with Lamichhane’s anticipated return to the field.
Lamichhane’s Return and Record
Sandeep Lamichhane, who missed the matches in the United States due to visa issues, has now joined his team in the West Indies. He is just two wickets away from reaching 100 T20I wickets, boasting an impressive career economy rate of 6.29 across 52 matches since his debut in 2018.
Rabada’s Thoughts on Lamichhane
Kagiso Rabada expressed his awareness of the threat Lamichhane could pose. “Yeah, he’s a mystery spinner, so any mystery spinner is going to be tough to play. But I know the guys are really looking forward to facing that challenge,” Rabada said in a pre-match press conference.
South Africa’s Approach to the Match
South Africa has already secured a spot in the Super 12, having won all three of their matches against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands. Despite their success, Rabada emphasized that they are not taking Nepal lightly. “Yeah, it’s another international match, another fixture, and we’re not taking them lightly and we’re going to try and play some more of the same cricket or even better that we’ve been playing in the tournament,” he said.
Rabada’s Experience on Different Pitches
Reflecting on his experience playing on different pitches, Rabada mentioned the challenging conditions in New York, which were more favorable to bowlers. “As a bowler, I must say, yeah, I have enjoyed it, 100%. But conditions will probably level out now,” Rabada added.
Rabada has been a key player for South Africa in the ongoing World Cup, taking four wickets in three matches at an economy rate of 5.58. Together with Anrich Nortje, he has significantly troubled opposition batters with their pace and accuracy.
Match Implications
If USA manages to beat Ireland or even secures a point from the match, they will advance to the Super 12. However, Pakistan needs Ireland to beat USA and then secure a victory against Ireland to have any chance of progressing. Canada also has a slim chance of moving forward if USA loses to Ireland and they manage to defeat India on Saturday.
The stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the Group A matches, with all teams vying for a place in the next round and players like Sandeep Lamichhane and Kagiso Rabada expected to play crucial roles.
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