WI vs SA 3rd T20I 2024: Match Preview, Head to Heads, Playing 11, Pitch Report, and Live Streaming Details

As West Indies and South Africa prepare to clash in the third and final T20I of the series at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad, both teams have everything to play for. The West Indies, having already secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, will be looking to complete a clean sweep, while South Africa will aim to salvage some pride with a win to end their tour on a high note.

WI vs SA 3rd T20I 2024: Match Details

Time: Aug 28, 12:30 AM IST | Aug 27, 3 PM Local & 7 PM GMT

Venue: Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad

WI vs SA 3rd T20I 2024: Head-to-Heads

The head-to-head record between South Africa and West Indies in T20 Internationals (T20Is) has seen 25 encounters. The West Indies have come out on top in 13 of these matches, showcasing a strong recent performance against South Africa. Meanwhile, South Africa has won 12 matches, highlighting the competitive nature of the rivalry.

In the current series, the West Indies have dominated, securing wins in both of the first two T20Is with victories by 7 wickets and 30 runs, respectively, at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. This continues their strong run of form against South Africa from earlier in 2024 when they won 3-0 in a series in the Caribbean.

The two teams have often found themselves in closely contested battles. For instance, during the five-match T20I series in 2021 in St. George’s, Grenada, South Africa narrowly edged out West Indies with a 3-2 series win. Similarly, in March 2023, the series in South Africa was a nail-biter with the West Indies emerging victorious 2-1.

Historically, South Africa has enjoyed periods of dominance as well, particularly evident in the early years of T20 cricket. Notable victories include a comprehensive 69-run win in Durban in 2015 and an 8-wicket triumph in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 held in Dubai.

WI vs SA 3rd T20I 2024: Squad news

West Indies

West Indies, have shown strong overall performance in the first two T20Is, but there are a few areas where they might consider making changes. Roston Chase has struggled with the bat and might be under pressure to retain his place. If West Indies feel the need for a more aggressive batting option, they could consider bringing in Shimron Hetmyer or Johnson Charles to bolster their middle order. On the bowling front, while Matthew Forde has shown promise, his performance in the second T20I was less effective. West Indies could consider bringing in Obed McCoy, a left-arm pacer, to add variety and strengthen their pace attack. Gudakesh Motie could also be replaced if West Indies opts for an additional pacer to exploit the conditions better.

South Africa

For South Africa, the main concern has been the inconsistency in their batting lineup, especially the top order. While Reeza Hendricks found form in the second T20I, others like Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram have struggled to make a significant impact. South Africa might consider dropping Donovan Ferreira, who has had limited success, and bringing in Jason Smith to add more stability and depth to their middle order. On the bowling side, Ottneil Baartman and Kwena Maphaka have had mixed performances. To provide a fresh option, South Africa might consider giving Nandre Burger a chance to add some variation to the pace attack. These changes could help South Africa put up a more competitive performance in the third match.

WI vs SA 3rd T20I 2024: Possible Playing Eleven

West Indies

Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Rovman Powell (c), Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Matthew Forde / Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie.

South Africa

Ryan Rickelton (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Jason Smith / Donovan Ferreira, Patrick Kruger, Bjorn Fortuin, Lizaad Williams, Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka / Nandre Burger.

WI vs SA 3rd T20I 2024: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

The pitch at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad and Tobago has historically favored bowlers, particularly the pacers. The surface is known to offer good bounce and carry, making it a challenging wicket for batsmen. The conditions have often been conducive to seam bowling, with pacers accounting for a significant majority of the wickets taken in recent matches.

In the last five T20Is played at this venue, the average score has been relatively low emphasizing the difficulty batsmen have faced. Out of the overall wickets taken in these matches, pacers have claimed more wickets than spinners, underscoring the pitch’s support for pace bowling. Spinners, on the other hand, have found less assistance, which indicates that despite the slow nature of the pitch, it helps the pacers with different variations.

Weather conditions are expected to be rainy, which could further assist the seam bowlers by adding moisture to the pitch and making the ball harder to play. This could also lead to interruptions, which might influence the game strategy for both teams.

Looking at the results over the past five years, the West Indies have been more successful at this venue with nine wins compared to South Africa’s five. Teams winning the toss have predominantly chosen to bowl first, with 81% of them opting to field. This strategy has been somewhat justified, as the team bowling first has gone on to win 55.56% of the matches, indicating a slight advantage to bowling.

WI vs SA 3rd T20I 2024: LIVE Telecast and LIVE Streaming Details

Where to Watch WI vs SA 3rd T20I 2024 in India?

Fans in India can watch the game on Fancode.