After their top three finished the job in the first T20I against West Indies, South Africa will be hoping their middle-order batters step up in the second game.
South Africa, who lost 12 of their 18 T20Is under coach Shukri Conrad in 2025, would have been relieved to start their only international series of the summer with a win—especially as it serves as a warm-up for the T20 World Cup. The relief would have been even greater seeing their top three, particularly captain Aiden Markram, find form. Markram struggled in the last T20 World Cup year, averaging just 15.56 in the format in 2024. Now, South Africa’s task is to secure their first series win under Conrad and get the rest of the line-up into rhythm.
They will be looking to their middle order to make an impact at SuperSport Park after having a light workload in game one. All eyes will be on Dewald Brevis, who comes off a century in the SA20 final and will play an international at his home ground for the first time.
West Indies, on the other hand, looked lacklustre in the series opener and have no time for complacency. Their focus will be on sharpening skills across all departments, particularly batting, while also addressing fielding lapses—they dropped three catches on Tuesday, though two were difficult efforts in the bowlers’ follow-through. West Indies have not lost a T20I series to South Africa in three attempts since June 2021 and will be eager to stay alive in this one.
Form guide
- South Africa: W L L W L
- West Indies: L W L L L
George Linde was used both to open the bowling and at the death in Paarl, highlighting both the conditions and the role he could play at the T20 World Cup. He showed impressive control at Boland Park, conceding just 25 runs in four overs while taking three wickets, including two in the final over as West Indies looked to accelerate.
Jayden Seales went wicketless in the first match and struggled with lengths against South Africa’s top three. On a pace-friendly track, he may find it easier to bowl back of a length and attack. Though Seales is still learning at T20I level with eight matches under his belt, he has played 50 matches in the format overall and taken as many wickets, giving him a foundation to build on.
Team news – Rested stars set to return for South Africa
South Africa rested SA20 winners Quinton de Kock, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, and Lungi Ngidi in the first T20 but are expected to have them all back for the rest of the series. Stubbs may sit out initially, as Jason Smith—originally in the T20 World Cup squad—didn’t bat in Paarl. South Africa might also opt for only one spinner in seamer-friendly conditions.
Probable South Africa XI:
1 Aiden Markram (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock, 3 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 Jason Smith, 6 Corbin Bosch, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 George Linde, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Anrich Nortje, 11 Lungi Ngidi
Shai Hope missed the first match with a niggle, while there was no room for Shamar Joseph. If fit, both should return to the XI.
Probable West Indies XI:
1 Brandon King, 2 Johnson Charles, 3 Shai Hope (capt & wk), 4 Roston Chase, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Sherfane Rutherford, 7 Rovman Powell, 8 Jason Holder, 9 Akeal Hosein, 10 Shamar Joseph, 11 Jayden Seales
The Paarl match saw higher-than-expected scores, and conditions on the Highveld should favour batters even more. In five SA20 matches this season, three first-innings totals exceeded 175, with two of those teams winning batting first. While generally batter-friendly, the track offers good bounce for bowlers, and afternoon thundershowers—clearing by early evening—could assist swing bowling.
Stats & trivia
The last SuperSport Park encounter between these sides was a run fest: West Indies scored 258/5, chased by South Africa with seven balls to spare. Johnson Charles and Quinton de Kock both scored centuries.
De Kock is now just two runs shy of 12,000 T20 runs; among South Africans, only Faf du Plessis (12,041) is ahead.
