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SL vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report

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Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey

SL vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SL vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs South Africa 3rd T20I Key Players | Colombo Pitch Report

And just like that, the series ends with barely a whimper. Sri Lanka, after taking a forward step with T20I and ODI series wins over India and South Africa respectively, have taken two steps backwards in this T20I series.

The concern remains their batting so close to the T20 World Cup. The return of Kusal Perera was a boost, but the batting lineup clearly lacks power as well as the ability to keep the runs flowing consistently. After huffing and puffing their way to 135 in the first T20I, the Lions were then bundled out for just 103 to have their batting top of the agenda as they look to finish this series in strong fashion.

For South Africa, let the good times roll. They have now won eight of 10 T20Is since the start of their West Indies tour. More encouraging is the fact that they have handled slow, spinning conditions well courtesy of their top order and spin attack led by the superb Tabraiz Shamsi.

There is no such thing as a dead rubber with a T20 World Cup just around the corner. Sri Lanka need confidence, while South Africa will be aiming to continue their winning form.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sri Lanka:

  • Kusal Perera is crucial to Sri Lanka’s hopes. The skipper was their top-scorer in the second match (30), and will be hoping to carry on for more today. Overall vs South Africa, Perera has scored 127 runs in six matches at an average/strike rate of 21.16/117.59.
  • Dinesh Chandimal was in good form in domestic cricket before this series (51*, 59, 40 and 14 in his last four domestic T20s). He scored 66* in the first T20I, and the aim will be to hold things together well today.
  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa was looking in decent touch before gifting his wicket to Markram off a full toss. The key will be to build on his innings of 20 (13) in the last game into something more substantial.
  • Sri Lanka desperately needs Dhananjaya de Silva to make an impact. To do that, de Silva will need to overturn a poor batting record against South Africa in T20Is (116 runs, avg. 12.88). He does have the second-most T20I runs for Sri Lanka on this ground (232, avg. 29.00), only behind skipper Kusal Perera (386, avg. 29.79).
  • Wanindu Hasaranga continues to be the shining light for Sri Lanka. In a tough series for his team, Hasaranga has taken three wickets at an economy rate of just 5.62. In 2021, Hasaranga has taken 20 wickets in 11 T20Is at an average of 11.40 and economy rate of 5.30.
  • Dushmantha Chameera is yet to produce the kind of form vs South Africa that he showed earlier in the year. He has taken 15 wickets in 2021 at an average of 17.26 and economy rate of 6.44.

South Africa:

  • Aiden Markram has been the star with both bat and ball this series (48, 21* and 3/21). He has continued his wonderful batting form in T20Is this year, where he now has 408 runs in 12 matches at an average of 40.80 and strike rate of 150.00. Key player.
  • Quinton de Kock came into this series with a poor record against Sri Lanka. The classy keeper-batsman has gone some way to turning that around, with scores of 38 and 58*. He now has 201 runs in nine T20Is vs Sri Lanka at an average of 25.12.
  • No Protea has more runs vs Sri Lanka than Reeza Hendricks. He was looking in decent touch in the second T20I (18) before giving his wicket away. Hendricks has 255 runs in seven innings vs Sri Lanka at an average of 36.42 and strike rate of 124.39.
  • What an incredible year Tabraiz Shamsi is having. The world’s number one T20I bowler was unplayable at times in the second T20I, producing a player of the match performance (3/20). He now has 28 wickets in 16 T20Is this year at an average of 11.89 and economy rate of 5.45. He will be a factor again on a surface that is expected to provide more turn.
  • Bjorn Fortuin has taken three wickets in two matches this series at an economy rate of just 4.50. His accuracy and consistency will make him a threat once again on a turning track. The same applies to Keshav Maharaj (two wickets this series, econ. 4.70).

Stats and Facts

  • South Africa have won six T20Is in a row, beating West Indies, Ireland and Sri Lanka along the way.
  • Tabraiz Shamsi is one wicket away from 50 in T20Is. This will be his 42nd match.
  • Sri Lanka have not beaten South Africa in a T20I since August 2018. The teams have played five T20Is against each other since then.

Possible Playing 11

Sri Lanka dropped Avishka Fernando in the second T20I. While he has struggled in T20I cricket (avg. 13), he has the potential to deliver.

Also, Sri Lanka will be well served bringing in Kamindu Mendis. Mendis was outstanding in Sri Lanka’s recent domestic T20 competition, striking scores of 74, 53* and 66.

Sri Lanka: 1. Avishka Fernando, 2. Kusal Perera (wk), 3. Dinesh Chandimal, 4. Dhananjaya de Silva, 5. Kamindu Mendis/Charith Asalanka, 6. Dasun Shanaka (c), 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. Chamika Karunaratne, 9. Dushmantha Chameera, 10. Maheesh Theekshana, 11. Praveen Jayawickrama

With the series won, South Africa could look at rotation. They may rest Kagiso Rabada.

George Linde was a surprise omission from South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad, but could get a look in here in conditions that aid spin.

South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Reeza Hendricks, 3. Aiden Markram, 4. Heinrich Klaasen, 5. Rassie van der Dussen, 6. Dwaine Pretorius/George Linde, 7. Wiaan Mulder/Kagiso Rabada, 8. Keshav Maharaj (c), 9. Bjorn Fortuin, 10. Anrich Nortje, 11. Tabraiz Shamsi

R Premadasa Stadium Colombo Pitch Report and Weather

Batting first is an advantage here even though Sri Lanka completely squandered it in the second T20I. The surface is aiding the spinners, with plenty of turn and variable pace available. Bat first and anything in the region of 140-150 will be a challenging chase.

There is a chance of rain during the match at Colombo.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: Teams below are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these teams in time after the final playing XIs have been announced.

Option 1:

SL vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SL vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs South Africa 3rd T20I Key Players | Colombo Pitch Report
SL vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction

Option 2:

SL vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SL vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs South Africa 3rd T20I Key Players | Colombo Pitch Report
SL vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction

Fan2Play Prediction

SL vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SL vs SA 3rd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Sri Lanka vs South Africa 3rd T20I Key Players | Colombo Pitch Report
SL vs SA 3rd T20 Fan2Play

Match Prediction

South Africa start as clear favourites again, with Sri Lanka’s best hope batting first and putting a score of 140-150 on the board, then defending it via their spinners.

Also read: Fan2Play vs Dream11 – What’s the difference?

Charbel Coorey
Charbel Cooreyhttps://cricblog.net
Charbel is the owner & founder of cricblog.net, based in Sydney, Australia. He started the website to fulfill his love for the game of cricket. Charbel has been featured on other publications including OP India, Times of India, and The Roar, among others. He is also a keen fantasy sports player. Charbel has also had the privilege of interviewing cricketers on the CricBlog TV YouTube channel, including James Neesham, Rassie van der Dussen, Andrew Tye, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat and Saurabh Netravalkar: https://www.youtube.com/@cricblogtv For any story tips or questions, you can contact Charbel at charbelcoorey@cricblog.net.

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