Unbeaten South Australia take on listless Guyana
Match facts
Tuesday, September 21Start time 1330 (1130 GMT)
Big Picture
On paper, the first of tomorrow's two games at the Wanderers is a clash between the Twenty20 champions of West Indies and the runners-up from Australia. Realistically, it is one of the biggest mismatches, pitting a winless Guyana against an unbeaten South Australia in the first inconsequential game of the tournament.Both teams' performances are telling reflections on the quality of cricket that the respective countries have produced in recent years. Guyana's miserable show has made Trinidad and Tobago's run to the inaugural Champions League's final seem like an aberration. After three consecutive losses, Ramnaresh Sarwan's men have one final chance to redeem themselves somewhat against a South Australia side that has set high standards in Group B.
It has been a tournament where captains have dominated with the bat - five out of the top seven run-scorers are captains - and no one has dominated more than South Australia's Michael Klinger, who came into the Champions League having scored 223 runs in 13 Twenty20 games. He has looted 197 in three so far in South Africa.
Klinger and Daniel Harris have been brilliant at the top, stringing two century partnerships. The only problem for South Australia might be that the other batsmen haven't needed to score much. They could try giving the others some practice in this no-pressure match, having already made the semi-finals.
Team news
South Australia have been unchanged throughout. Barring injury or illness, they should stick to the same XI for their final league game.South Australia: (probable) 1 Daniel Harris, 2 Michael Klinger (capt), 3 Graham Manou (wk), 4 Callum Ferguson, 5 Daniel Christian, 6 Cameron Borgas, 7 Tom Cooper, 8 Aaron O'Brien, 9 Cullen Bailey, 10 Gary Putland, 11 Shaun Tait
Steven Jacobs, who replaced Narsingh Deonarine, top-scored against the Lions, and should retain his place in Guyana's side. Left-hand batsman Assad Fudadin, who hasn't got a game yet, could play if Guyana drop one of their under-performing batsmen.
Guyana: (probable) 1 Travis Dowlin, 2 Sewnarine Chattergoon, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan (capt), 4 Steven Jacobs, 5 Chistopher Barnwell, 6 Royston Crandon, 7 Jonathan Foo, 8 Esuan Crandon, 9 Derwin Christian (wk), 10 Lennox Cush, 11 Devendra Bishoo
Watch out for ...
Shaun Tait has been quick and accurate, and better batting line-ups than Guyana's have struggled to score against him. He will be relishing the prospect of having a go at them.Travis Dowlin, who has scored the most Twenty20 runs for Guyana, is yet to fire in this event. He has one more opportunity to give his side a good start at the top of the order.
Key contests
Tait v Sarwan: Sarwan, as always, is key for Guyana and Tait will target him. Their battle could determine whether Guyana stand any hopes of pulling off an upset.
Stats and trivia
- Michael Klinger shares the top spot in the tournament's run-chart, having scored 197 runs, same as Aaron Finch
- The gulf between the sides is obvious from the highest partnerships they have managed: South Australia's 124 as opposed to Guyana's 46
Abhishek Purohit is an editorial assistant at ESPNcricinfo