The first match in the Super-8 round of T20 World Cup 2024 will be played between South Africa and America in Antigua. Both the teams are going to face each other for the first time. On one hand, the South African team is coming after winning all its four matches. On the other hand, America defeated a team like Pakistan and secured its seeded seat and traveled till here.

Before the tournament started, no one thought that the host American team could reach so far. However, the hero of this journey of the team, Saurabh Netravalkar, made everyone's dreams come true with his brilliant bowling. Now once again his team will have expectations of a match-winning spell from him.

Netravalkar the star of powerplay and death overs?

Saurabh Netravalkar, who once played Ranji for India, has proved to be a big weapon for the US team. His special thing is that he is adept at bowling overs with both new and old balls.

Netravalkar has bowled in three matches in this World Cup, in which he has taken 4 wickets. During this, his economy has been only 5.2. Netravalkar has taken three out of 4 wickets in the powerplay with an economy of 4.57.

Like America, in Antigua too, fast bowlers get help in the initial overs and South Africa's top order has been struggling so far. In such a situation, Netravalkar can once again become a big weapon for his team. Not only this, Netravalkar also bowls in the death overs, which can be a big challenge for South Africa. He has already shown a sample of this against Pakistan.

South Africa's batting is a matter of concern

South Africa's team is coming after winning all the matches of the group stage, but not a single victory has been easy for them. The top order of the team is a matter of concern. In this World Cup, South Africa has lost 11 wickets in the powerplay, which is the worst performance after Papua New Guinea and Uganda. Apart from this, the strike rate of none of the top order batsmen in the powerplay is 100. However, it is worth noting here that South Africa played its three matches in New York, where the fast bowlers had a lot of help from the pitch and that much help will not be there in Antigua.

At the same time, the team's veteran batsman David Miller has been seen in form, who single-handedly won the match against the Netherlands.

The most relieving thing for South Africa is that their fast and spin bowlers have performed brilliantly so far. Anrich Norkhia has taken 9 wickets at an economy of only 4.37. While Keshav Maharaj won the match by bowling a brilliant last over against Bangladesh, Tabrez Shamsi did wonders against Nepal.

At the same time, the team's veteran batsman David Miller has been seen in form, who single-handedly won the match against the Netherlands.

The most relieving thing for South Africa is that their fast and spin bowlers have performed brilliantly so far. Anrich Norkhia has taken 9 wickets at an economy of only 4.37. While Keshav Maharaj won the match by bowling a brilliant last over against Bangladesh, Tabrez Shamsi did wonders against Nepal.