3 Fantastico Battles that could Impact the 1st T20I between Eng and SA

South Africa completed a remarkable turnaround in the ODI series by winning the last three games to clinch the series 3-2. There were plenty of amazing performances from both the teams and now the two teams meet again in the shortest format of the game in a bid to fine tune their game ahead of the ICC WT20 which will start next month in India.

3 Fantastico Battles that could have an Impact on the 1st T20I between SavEng:

AB de Villiers and Quinton de Kock Vs Reece Topley

Quinton de Kock was the destroyer in chief for the South Africans in the ODI series where he cracked two swashbuckling hundreds, both filled with enterprising strokes and flair. De Villiers had a more subdued series but he still managed to finish in the series with over 200 runs at an average of more than 72. It will be an explosive opening if these two get their act together, they are capable of taking apart any bowling attack in the world and bring any team to its knees. Trying to stop these Fantastico batsmen will be Reece Topley, the left arm seamer who finished as the highest wicket taker in the ODI series. He is capable of swing the ball and with the left armers angle might prove to be a handful for even De Kock and De Villiers!

Alex Hales and Joe Root Vs Kasigo Rabada and Kyle Abbott

Alex Hales and Joe Root had a super ODI series, with both of them scoring over 350 runs in the five match series and ending up one-two in the run chart. Hales scored 4 fifties and a ton while Root made a fifty and two tons. These two in form batsmen will be up against two in form bowlers, Rabada and Abbott, who were one of the main reasons why the Protea team could snatch the series 3-2 after being two down after the first two games! These two picked up regular wickets and kept the run scoring in check, they bowled with fire and aggression and conquered the entire English team expect Hales and Root. It promises to be another fascinating battle when they meet again, this time in the T20 format!

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes Vs David Wiese and Chris Morris

Jos Buttler started ODI series with a bang, making an audacious hundred and then cracking a 20 ball 40 odd to win the second ODI from the jaws of a defeat. Ben Stokes made a couple of attractive fifties of his own coming in life down while also picking up important wickets with the ball. But these two men also three ducks between them and thus let the game slip from the English point of view. Wiese and Morris played a key role in the Protea renaissance, picking up crucial wicket at important junctures of the match. They both are also hard hitting lower order batsmen who contributed in the ODI matches. Their battle with Stokes and Buttler will be intriguing and one to look out for!!

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.