"BATTLE OF THE SPINNERS" TO DECIDE PROTEAS' T20 WORLD CUP FATE

Durban's Super Giants captain Keshav Maharaj is looking forward to the "battle of spinners” when the Proteas face the West Indies in a crunch ICC Men's T20 World Cup Super Eight clash in Antigua tonight.

Depending on the outcome of the England-USA tie earlier in the day in Barbados, the match-up between the Proteas and the West Indies is a virtual quarter-final to see who will progress to the semi-finals.

The Proteas are currently unbeaten on top of the Super Eight table with four points, but the Windies boast a Net Run-Rate of +1.814 in comparison to South Africa’s +06.25.

A West Indies victory would mean the co-hosts also move up to four points, but would then advance due to a superior Net Run-Rate.

The match is therefore critical in the context of the entire competition with many feeling that the spinners on both teams will play a crucial role in the outcome at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

The Windies spinners Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Moti have been their best bowlers at the tournament so far, with the former having picked nine wickets and the latter eight in six matches.

Maharaj has also claimed eight wickets already - despite playing one game less.

“It's always a battle of the spinners. But yeah, I think I'm just going about my business. I think they've bowled exceptionally well in the tournament,” he said.

“I've watched quite a few spells of them, so obviously they're quite a dominant force as well. They've got a very strong batting lineup, but just trying to stick true to my processes and my principles

Maharaj played a pivotal role in the Proteas' victory over defending champions England in the last match at the Daren Sammy Stadium in St Lucia, where he used the conditions effectively as he toyed with the English batters by throwing the ball up into the wind.

“I think it was only because the wind was in my favour. Obviously, I might have bowled slightly different at times if the wind blew the other way, but I think it allowed me from the conditions point of view to sort of toss a few up there and just try and make the play,” he said.

Being a left-arm spinner, Maharaj is also looking forward to the match-up against the West Indies’ bevy of right-handers at the top of the order.

“I think it's a good contest. Obviously, they were the prior World T20 champions, so it's always good to go up against the best,” he said.

However, the Windies boast arguably the most dangerous left-hander in global T20 cricket at No 3 in Nicholas Pooran.

Maharaj and Pooran were, of course, teammates at DSG during Betway SA20 Season 2 and the Proteas left-armer would hopefully have picked up vital learnings to take into this almighty contest.

SQUADS FOR ANTIGUA

South Africa squad: Aiden Markram (captain - Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Ottniel Baartman (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Gerald Coetzee (Joburg Super Kings), Quinton de Kock (Durban's Super Giants), Bjorn Fortuin (Paarl Royals), Reeza Hendricks (Joburg Super Kings), Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Heinrich Klaasen (Durban's Super Giants), Keshav Maharaj (Durban's Super Giants), David Miller (Paarl Royals), Anrich Nortje (Pretoria Capitals), Kagiso Rabada (MI Cape Town), Ryan Rickelton (MI Cape Town), Tabraiz Shamsi (Paarl Royals), Tristan Stubbs (Sunrisers Eastern Cape). Travelling reserves: Nandre Burger (Joburg Super Kings), Lungi Ngidi (Paarl Royals).

West Indies squad: Rovman Powell (captain), Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Kyle Mayers (Durban’s Super Giants), , Obed McCoy (Paarl Royals), Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran (Durban’s Super Giants), Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd (Joburg Super Kings). Reserves: Fabian Allen (Paarl Royals), Andre Fletcher, Matthew Forde, Hayden Walsh Jr. *Mayers replaced Brandon King on 21 June due to injury.

Time: Monday, 2:30am (SA time)

Main image: ICC/Getty