Pretoria Capitals vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape, SA20 2023, Today Match Prediction 11 February 2023

pc vs sec Match Prediction & Analysis

The inaugural SA20 season has now reached its conclusion. This has been the best thing to happen to South African cricket in a long time. Pretoria Capitals will clash with Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the final at Johannesburg. In head-to-head records, Pretoria Capitals lead 2-0 against Sunrisers so far. 

Temba Bavuma, the middle-order batsman who leads South Africa in the international games, hasn’t been in good touch lately. All eyes will be on him in the final as he takes up an important spot in the Sunrisers' batting order. 

Aiden Markram seems to be carrying all the load on his shoulders in the batting department. Whereas, in the Pretoria Capitals’ squad, there are some promising players in the late order.

Colin Ingram, James Neesham, and Eathan Bosch are the key players who can finish things off for the Capitals. Neesham has been consistent with the ball and will be one to watch out for. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

Pretoria Capitals Preview

Pretoria Capitals finished on top with 7 wins from 10 matches in the league stage. While they weren’t impressive with the bat in the semi-final, the bowlers saved the day with an impressive performance. That has been one of the best features of this Capitals side.

Their bowlers have stepped up and delivered a game-changing performance time and again. James Neesham is someone who is likely to go unnoticed but has been a major factor in the Capitals’ wins. Right-arm fast bowler, Eathan Bosch has shown his batting skills at number 7.

He can hit the long ball and will be crucial in a run chase. This Capitals’ side has a deep batting order with Kusal Mendis and Phil Salt at the top of it.

Both openers are known for their attacking style of play and can deliver an impactful knock. Rilee Rossouw hasn’t been in good form in the middle order and that would be a big concern for Pretoria going into the final.

Skipper Theunis de Bruyn holds a crucial position at number 3 and will be eager to find his rhythm in this game. He is likely to stay longer at the crease given that the number 4 batter isn’t in good shape and the Capitals don’t want to expose Ingram and Neesham too soon.

The bowling attack features the best in the business. Adil Rashid, Anrich Nortje, Eathan Bosch, and Miguel Preotius make for a great bowling attack.

Pretoria Capitals Predicted Playing XI:

Philip Salt (wk), Kusal Mendis, Theunis de Bruyn (c), Rilee Rossouw, Colin Ingram, James Neesham, Senuran Muthusamy, Migael Pretorius, Eathan Bosch, Adil Rashid, Anrich Nortje

Sunrisers Eastern Cape Preview

Sunrisers were out of form before they faced Joburg Super Kings in the 2nd semi-final of SA20. The batting still doesn’t look very promising given it was the hundred from Aiden Markram that propelled the Sunrisers to a massive total in the semi-final.

Bavuma and Rossington are out of form at the top and it has been Markram all the way for the Sunrisers. There are other promising names too in the middle order.

JJ Smuts, Jordan Hermann, and Tristan Stubbs are all capable of delivering impactful performances in the middle order. However, consistency has been their biggest issue.

Smuts would score well in one match and get out cheaply in the next. Now, in this all-important match, Hermann and Markram will be the ones responsible for building partnerships in the middle.

Markram’s wicket is the most valuable and if he gets out cheaply in addition to Bavuma’s early exit at the top, Sunrisers Eastern Cape will be in deep trouble. Technically, the batting order is quite deep with Jordan Cox and Marco Jansen at 6 and 7 followed by bowling all-rounder Roelof van der Merwe.

But it hasn’t really made any big impact so far and the Sunrisers continue being dependent on a few batters in the middle. Marco Janses, Sisanda Magala, and Roelof van der Merwe will be the key bowlers in this lineup.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape Predicted Playing XI:

Adam Rossington (wk), Temba Bavuma, Jordan Hermann, Aiden Markram (c), Jordan Cox, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Brydon Carse, Ottniel Baartman, Roelof van der Merwe, Sisanda Magala

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

It is a batting track here in Johannesburg. Though the last match was a low-scoring encounter, historically, the pitch has been ideal for batters. Thundershowers are expected on the match day with a high of 19 degrees Celsius.

Venue Details

The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg will host the final of the inaugural SA 20 season. In the T20 internationals, the average 1st inning score is 173 runs while in the domestic T20s, it is 165 runs. The ground has a quick outfield and if the batters manage to find the gaps, the ball would win the race to the boundary.

Toss: To Bat

Teams batting first have won 26 of the 44 domestic T20s played at this venue. This season, 4 of the 5 games had a result in favour of the team batting first. In the semi-final at this venue, Pretoria Capitals even managed to defend a low score of 153 runs.