South Africa are set to take on West Indies in the first T20I of the three-match series at Boland Park, Paarl on Tuesday, January 27. This series serves as important preparation for both the teams ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, which is just around the corner.
West Indies are entering this competition looking to bounce back from the 2-1 series loss to Afghanistan. Shai Hope’s side will be eager to test their bench strength and finalize their combination. South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, will look to take advantage of home conditions to gain momentum.
This article provides a detailed preview of SA vs WI 1st T20I, including free live streaming details, pitch and weather report, head-to-head records and key stats.
South Africa vs West Indies 1st T20I Preview:
Date and Place: Boland Park in Paarl will host the first T20 match of the series between South Africa and West Indies on Tuesday, January 27.
South Africa vs West Indies Teams:
South Africa team: Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brewis, Quinton de Kock, Rubin Harman, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Mfaka, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs.
West Indies Team (Predicted): Shai Hope (captain), Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Johnson Charles, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Moti, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph.
South Africa vs West Indies Probable XI:
South Africa Playing XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Dewald Brewis, Marco Johnson, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi.
West Indies playing XI: Brandon King, Johnson Charles (wk), Shai Hope (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Moti.
South Africa vs West Indies 1st T20I Key Matches:
Kagiso Rabada vs Brandon King
Kagiso Rabada is the leader of South Africa’s bowling attack. He can generate extra bounce and movement with the new ball, which makes him dangerous in the powerplay. Rabada will aim to take early wickets and expose the West Indies middle-order.
Brandon King plays with good pace and likes to get the ball onto his bat. However, Rabada’s accuracy outside the off-stump will test his technique. If King survives the early spell, he has the range of shots to score freely.
Gudakesh Moti vs Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram is a reliable player of spin and plays an important role in handling the South African innings. He likes to rotate the strike in the middle overs and keep the scoreboard going.
Gudakesh Moti has impressed with his control and smart versatility. On a Paarl pitch, which may provide some grip, Moti will look to slow down the scoring and force Markram into mistakes. Markram will need patience and good shot selection to handle the spin.
marco jensen vs johnson charles
Marco Jensen causes problems with his height and left-handed angle. He can swing the ball to right-handed batsmen or get sharp bounce, making him difficult to line up in the powerplay.
Johnson Charles is known for his aggressive attitude and likes to attack from the start. He will look to target Johnson early to make the most of the fielding restrictions. This matchup is a battle between upside and raw firepower.
Shamar Joseph vs Quinton de Kock
Shamar Joseph brings high pace and energy to the West Indies attack. He bowls tough lengths and is not afraid to challenge the batsmen with short balls or yorkers.
Quinton de Kock plays against fast bowling and uses the pace of the ball to find gaps. However, Joseph’s slow pace and aggressive lines mean that De Kock will have to be careful at first, as a faster ball can put him under pressure.
Key players of South Africa vs West Indies 1st T20 match:
South Africa – Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Johnson
west indies – Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Shimron Hetmyer, Gudakesh Moti, Shamar Joseph
South Africa vs West Indies 1st T20I – Free Live Streaming & Broadcast Details
TV broadcasting in India: The first T20 match between South Africa and West Indies will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network across India.
Online Live Streaming in India: Fans can watch the match live on SonyLIV app and website. An active subscription may be required.
Match date: The first T20 match will be played on Tuesday 27 January.
venue: This match will be held at Boland Park in Paarl.
How to watch on television: Viewers can watch Sony Sports Network channel to watch the live telecast of South Africa vs West Indies 1st T20 match.
How to watch online on mobile and web: The live streaming will be available on mobile devices and web browsers through the SonyLIV platform.
South Africa vs West Indies 1st T20I Weather & Pitch Report – Paarl
South Africa vs West Indies: Weather report in Paarl:
The weather in Paarl is expected to be favorable for cricket for the first T20 match. Conditions should be plenty of sunshine, with temperatures averaging around 32°C during the day before falling to around 14°C at night.
There is almost no rain forecast on the match day, ensuring the entire 40-over match without any interruption. Humidity levels will remain moderate, although players may feel hot in the first innings before conditions cool down a bit under the lights.
South Africa vs West Indies pitch report at Boland Park:
Boland Park is generally known for providing a balanced surface. The new ball comes onto the bat well, allowing strokes to be played in the powerplay. However, as the game progresses, the pitch becomes slower, allowing spinners and cutters to come into play.
A score of around 160-170 is considered par at this place. Chasing may be difficult if the surface is holding, so the captain who wins the toss may look to bat first.
The average score of the first innings in T20 is 137. If dew occurs under lights, the ball is likely to skid better on the bat in the second innings, reducing the threat of the spinners and encouraging the winning captain to bowl first.
South Africa vs West Indies Head-to-Head Records
| statistics | Matchbox | SA won | WI won | Drag | Tied up | N.R. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| overall | 26 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| in south africa | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| last 5 t20i | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
South Africa vs West Indies head-to-head records: key stats
According to ESPNcricinfo, South Africa and West Indies have played each other 26 times in T20Is. West Indies have won 14 matches, while South Africa has won 12.
The two sides have met nine times in matches played in South Africa. Notably, South Africa have won four on home soil, while West Indies have dominated the Proteas with five wins.
South Africa vs West Indies head-to-head records: last 5 matches
West Indies have had good results in recent T20 matches against South Africa, winning four of the last five matches. In their most recent series in August 2024, the Windies produced a dominant performance and completed a 3–0 clean sweep in Taruba.
However, South Africa won the most important victory. In the 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 match in North Sound, the Proteas defeated West Indies by three wickets to oust the hosts from the tournament. Before the World Cup, West Indies had defeated South Africa by 8 wickets in Kingston.
South Africa vs West Indies Head-to-Head Records – Last 5 Match Results:
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West Indies won by 8 wickets at Taruba on 27 August 2024
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West Indies won by 30 runs in Taruba on 25 August 2024
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West Indies won by 7 wickets in Taruba on 23 August 2024
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South Africa won by 3 wickets at North Sound on June 23, 2024
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West Indies won by 8 wickets at Kingston on 26 May 2024
South Africa vs West Indies 1st T20I – Conclusion:
The first T20 match of the three-match series between South Africa and West Indies at Boland Park could depend on the conditions. Scoreboard pressure could matter if the pitch is slow as the match progresses.
South Africa will depend on home conditions and the experience of senior players like Aiden Markram, David Miller and Quinton de Kock. Their bowling unit looks strong on paper with the presence of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje.
West Indies come with questions after the recent defeat to Afghanistan, but their explosive batting and spin options are well suited to the conditions in Paarl. While inconsistency remains a concern, their power-hitters can change a game in just a few overs, and their spinners are suitable for parl wickets.
Overall, South Africa have a slight lead due to home advantage and bowling depth, but a close contest is expected if the West Indies batsmen find their rhythm.
With the World Cup approaching, both teams will be looking to make a statement and start the series on a winning note in Paarl. The first match will decide the direction of the remaining two matches of the series.
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