Sri Lanka and South Africa. Two teams with slightly contrasting fortunes in ICC tournaments. Both have lost knockouts, but Sri Lanka have 50-over and 20-over World Cups somewhere in a cupboard. And despite being a formidable force in more than enough World Cups in the past, South Africa have none. Ahead of their 2023 World Cup clash, neither of them is counted among the favourites, although South Africa look like dark horses.
Despite losing out on the services of Anrich Nortje, one of the pace mainstays, and Sisanda Magala, better known for his bowling in the slog overs, South Africa still have enough horsepower to dent the opposition. Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi and Gerald Coetzee form a potent pace attack. Keep an eye on Coetzee, who has the ability to generate deceptive pace.
Temba Bavuma, the skipper, will look to lead from the front. He was in good nick in the ODI series versus Australia, evidenced by the 114 composed on a tricky wicket in Bloemfontein. The dangerous Henrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram and David Miller add further strength and depth to the batting. All of them strike at over 90.
What about Sri Lanka? If all players were available, they also might have been given the billing of dark horses, but the island nation has been beset by injury woes in the recent past. Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga have already been ruled out of the tournament.
Maheesh Theekshana is returning from a hamstring injury. Kusal Perera, one of those few Sri Lankan players, who has a strike rate of over 90, is troubled by a shoulder issue. Dasun Shanaka, the skipper, is also down with a niggle. The one silver lining for them is the match is at a venue where one can expect a slow and low wicket.
Time and venue details
October 7 at 14:00 IST. New Delhi.
Expected conditions
It could turn out to be one of those typically slow pitches at Arun Jaitley Stadium. The ground has witnessed scores of over 300 only twice in ODIs. The square boundaries are generally a tad shorter at around 65 meters.
Possible XIs
Sri Lanka: Theekshana is set to return to the side. If Perera isn’t passed fit, then Dimuth Karunaratne would come into the equation.
Kusal Perera/Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk),Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Tabraiz Shamsi, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada.
Match-up
Klaasen versus Sri Lanka’s spinners: Klaasen is renowned for his great bat-speed and wide range of shots against spin. But Sri Lanka’s spinners would fancy their chances of picking up the prized scalp on what could turn out to be a slow track.
Captain speaks
The biggest thing is our character. You’ll hear a lot of guys speak about our resilience. I think that’s something that really stands for us in good point.
Temba Bavuma (South Africa)