SA vs WI 2nd T20I Preview: South Africa, the runners-up of the previous edition of the ICC T20 World Cup, are preparing for the upcoming edition of the tournament and have their final series scheduled against the West Indies. The West Indies are in South Africa for the three-match T20I series and will lock horns in the SA vs WI 2nd T20I clash at the Centurion.
The first match between these two teams marked South Africa dominating the former T20 world champions. Aiden Markram‘s brilliant 86* helped South Africa chase a 174-run target within 18 overs and with 9 wickets remaining. In an interesting turn of events, Ryan Rickelton featured as the wicket-keeper instead of Quinton de Kock, who has been drafted into the ICC T20 World Cup squad by the Proteas.
The article provides a detailed preview of the SA vs WI 2nd T20I match, which includes pitch and weather reports of Centurion, Live Streaming details, Head-to-Head records and key player battles to look out for.
SA vs WI 2nd T20I Preview:
Date and Venue: The iconic venue of the Centurion will be hosting the 2nd T20I between the two teams, South Africa and West Indies, which will be played on Thursday, the 29th of January.
SA vs WI Squads:
South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Rubin Hermann, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, and Tristan Stubbs.
West Indies Squad: Shai Hope (C and WK), Johnson Charles (WK), Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Joseph and Quenton Sampson.
SA vs WI Probable XIs:
South Africa Playing XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Corben Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje.
West Indies Playing XI: Brandon King, Johnson Charles (wk), Shai Hope (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales, and Gudakesh Motie.
SA vs WI 2nd T20I Key battles:
Kagiso Rabada vs Brandon King
Paceman Kagiso Rabada is one of the most legendary and successful bowlers from South Africa. He has been South Africa’s only constant with the ball in recent times and would once again pose a major threat with the new ball.
Brandon King remains one of the most reliable batters in the West Indies lineup. He opens the innings for the Windies and scores runs more sensibly than most of the Caribbean batters, who often tend to lose their wickets in the quest for quick runs.
Hence, this remains a fight between the two consistent performers for both teams. And whoever wins hands the upper hand to his team.
Shimron Hetmyer vs Keshav Maharaj
After a top-order clash, here comes one of the most crucial lower-order clashes between the West Indies’ big-hitting batter Shimron Hetmyer and South African veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj.
Hetmyer was the West Indies’ highest scorer at Boland Park and would look to keep up his good form. But Keshav Maharaj can be a hindrance in his way, as the bowler is known to keep control while going slow through the air, something that Hetmyer hates in his innings.
Akeal Hosein vs Aiden Markram
Akeal Hosein was picked over Gudakesh Motie by the West Indies in the first T20I, and considering he would continue for them at Centurion, the left-arm spinner will be essential against the most reliable Protea batter.
Aiden Markram is a stunning player of quick bowling; however, he has notably struggled against spin. His struggles have increased against left-arm spinners, and either Hosein or Motie can be a huge threat for him.
Roston Chase vs Dewald Brevis
The least experienced yet the most destructive in the South African lineup. Dewald Brevis comes off some stunning form in the SA20. His confidence has been boosted by the century in the SA20 final, and if any team has to win against the Proteas, he should quickly be sent back to the pavilion.
Roston Chase, his teammate from the Pretoria Capitals, has been playing in the SA20 on these tracks and has also been in the nets alongside Brevis, which makes him the ideal candidate to deceive him when they are in their respective national colours.
SA vs WI 2nd T20I Key Players:
South Africa – Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen
West Indies – Brandon King, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Gudakesh Motie, Sherfane Rutherford
SA vs WI 2nd T20I – Free Live Streaming and Telecast Details
TV Broadcast in India: The Second T20I between South Africa and the West Indies will be broadcast live across India on the Sony Sports Network.
Online Live Streaming in India: Fans from around the world can watch the match live on the SonyLIV app and website. An active subscription will be required.
How to Watch on Television: Cricket lovers can switch on the Sony Sports Network channels for the live telecast of the SA vs WI first T20I.
How to Watch Online on Mobile and Web: Live streaming will only be done through the SonyLIV platform, and cricket fanatics can witness it from anywhere on their mobiles and laptops.
SA vs WI 2nd T20I Weather and Pitch Report – Paarl
SA vs WI: Weather Report in Centurion:
The Centurion, unlike Paarl, does not facilitate very mild conditions, as temperatures might be on the rise during the afternoon; however, when the sun sets, the temperature also cools down with time. Hence, players would not find it too tiring to play here, while the humidity percentage also seems to be in a comfortable range.
However, the only concern, especially for the West Indies side, would be that rain could play a possible spoilsport on this venue. Weather forecasts have also predicted light to moderate rainfall. South Africa already have the lead in the series; hence, the Windies would want a full 40-over game to revive their morale ahead of the marquee tournament in India.
SA vs WI Pitch Report at Centurion Park:
The Centurion Park, which is also called as the SuperSport Centurion, often features some of the quickest pitches in South Africa, and it also gives plenty of opportunity to batsmen, since the ball comes nicely onto the bat.
The Centurion Park is never known as a paradise for spinners; hence, unlike the previous game, where Keshav Maharaj and George Linde got the better of the West Indies batters, that is not likely to happen here.
The ground also helps batting conditions, as it has a lush green outfield, which is very fast. Once the ball crosses the inner circle, it becomes almost impossible to keep track of the ball.
SA vs WI Head-to-Head Records
| Stats | Matches | SA Won | WI Won | Draw | Tied | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 27 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| In South Africa | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Last 5 T20Is | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SA vs WI Head-to-Head Records: Key Statistics
As per the above-mentioned stats, the two teams have met a total of 27 times in T20I matches and have fought neck-to-neck in the contests. South Africa have now managed to win 13 times and have reduced the gap between them and the Windies.
Among matches that have been played in South Africa, the teams are now levelled with 5 wins for both sides. South Africa’s fifth victory came in the first match of this series, which was played at Paarl.
SA vs WI Head-to-Head Records: Last 5 Matches
The West Indies have enjoyed playing against the Proteas, as they had dominated them with a 3-0 clean sweep in 2024, which was after South Africa finished as the runners-up of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
South Africa had, however, defeated the Windies in their most crucial game of the T20 World Cup Super-8 stage. They defeated the hosts, as a result of which the hosts were knocked out of the competition.
South Africa reduced the gap between the two sides by defeating the Windies in the preparatory series ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
SA vs WI Head-to-Head Records—Result of the last 5 games:
- South Africa won by 9 wickets in Paarl on January 27th, 2026
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West Indies won by 8 wickets in Tarouba on August 27, 2024
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West Indies won by 30 runs in Tarouba on August 25, 2024
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West Indies won by 7 wickets in Tarouba on August 23, 2024
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South Africa won by 3 wickets in North Sound on June 23, 2024
SA vs WI 2nd T20I – Conclusion:
The three-match T20I series between South Africa and the West Indies marks the last set of preparatory games for either team before they depart for India; hence, it has immense importance from both teams’ points of view.
The West Indies will be looking to restore their morale after a tragic loss to Afghanistan in the series before this. Explosiveness never lacks in their team, but consistency remains under threat every time, even when their most in-form batter comes out to bat.
South Africa will, however, have the home advantage and can also finalise a playing combination when all their players return to the game after marking the end of the gap phase between the SA20 final and the T20I series.
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