Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
South Africa vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Preview Dream11. SA vs SL 1st T20I Preview Dream11 Prediction
Like West Indies vs England recently, much of the focus for both sides here is building confidence ahead of the World Cup. Despite the change in format, similar personnel is set to take the field in Cape Town in what Proteas national selector Linda Zondi said is another step in ‘Vision 2019.’
South Africa will be out to continue their domination in white-ball cricket. They swept Sri Lanka 5-0 in the ODIs after a shock defeat in the Tests. Sri Lanka’s incredible win seems an age ago, with the Proteas highlighting the gulf between the sides in the coloured clothing. Will the same domination come to the fore in the T20Is?
Sri Lanka find themselves in the midst of another coaching issue. They lost yet another ODI on Saturday, keeping them stuck on just 11 wins since the beginning of 2017. To paint a picture, South Africa won 13 games in their past four series. When it comes to T20Is, the Sri Lankans don’t fare too much better, winning just six of their last 20 games, and are now ranked below the less-established Afghanistan. Can they use this series as a springboard for some much-needed confidence?
Also read: 5 big predictions for IPL 2019.
Key to a South Africa
The Proteas were dominant with the ball in the ODIs. The highest score they conceded was 231, which would have been considered par 15-20 years ago. Lungi Ngidi was superb in the series, but he is in doubt here with a side strain, which puts onus on his likely replacement Dale Steyn to deliver the goods in the powerplay and death overs. Kagiso Rabada is also in good touch, so too Anrich Nortje and Imran Tahir who combined for 4/68 in 19.3 overs in the recent fifth ODI. With Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius and JP Duminy also capable of delivering good overs, South Africa can look to take wickets regularly throughout the innings to hurt Sri Lanka’s progress.
Also, the Proteas would have been very excited by Aiden Markram’s strong innings in the fifth ODI. The lights fiasco was a disappointing end, but Markram is a player who can further his claim that he simply must be in the World Cup squad. He and the in-form Quinton de Kock can cause damage at the top, and with the likes of JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis and Andile Phehlukwayo to follow, a strong powerplay can set the tone for a big total, given Sri Lanka’s inability to bring things back after a tough period of play.
Key to a Sri Lanka win
Sri Lanka really struggled with the bat in the ODIs. Kusal Mendis was far and away their top run-scorer, scoring 202 runs at 40.40. The next best for Sri Lanka was 127 by Oshada Fernando, highlighting the lack of support for Mendis across five matches. Here, Mendis will undoubtedly be key again, but much is expected of the likes of Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva and Thisara Perera, all of whom had a poor ODI series. Can the likes of Sadeera Samawickrama and Angelo Perera also contribute to the cause so that Isuru Udana (Sri Lanka’s third-highest run scorer in the ODIs) isn’t required to save Sri Lanka yet again?
Also read: Light-hearted review (player ratings) of India vs Australia ODI Series.
Also, can Sri Lanka get into South Africa’s top order? They were finally able to dismiss Quinton de Kock early last time out, but then were unable to get the better of Aiden Markram. Can the Sri Lankans, led by Lasith Malinga and Isuru Udana, deliver a powerplay similar to what the Lankans did in Eden Park earlier this year? However, can they go on with the job this time?
Possible Playing 11
South Africa will go in with a team similar to what they put out in the ODIs. Reeza Hendricks could get a look in, but Rassie van der Dussen deserves to be given first go, given he has scored 56, 45 and 41 in his short T20I career so far.
South Africa: 1. Quinton de Kock (wk), 2. Aiden Markram, 3. Faf du Plessis (c), 4. Rassie van der Dussen, 5. JP Duminy, 6. Dwaine Pretorius, 7. Andile Phehlukwayo, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Anrich Nortje, 10. Dale Steyn/Beuran Hendricks, 11. Imran Tahir
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For Sri Lanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama could partner Niroshan Dickwella at the top. Also, Jeffrey Vandersay could get a look in.
Sri Lanka: 1. Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 2. Sadeera Samarawickrama, 3. Kusal Mendis, 4. Dhananjaya de Silva, 5. Angelo Perera, 6. Kamindu Mendis, 7. Thisara Perera, 8. Isuru Udana, 9. Akila Dananjaya 10 Lasith Malinga (c), 11 Asitha Fernando
Dream11 Prediction
Also read: Pros and cons of the Dream11 Deadline Time Decision.
Key stats and points:
- Conditions in Cape Town are expected to be mild. Pace and bounce was on offer in the fifth ODI, and runs could be on offer here.
- The last time South Africa played a T20I at Newlands, they scored 192/6 vs Pakistan (February 2019).
- The team chasing has won 12 of 17 T20Is at Newlands.
- Quinton de Kock (superb ODI series) and Aiden Markram (excellent domestic form) are good picks.
- JP Duminy is the leading T20I run scorer at Newlands (229 runs at 45.80, SR 131.61).
- Kusal Mendis was Sri Lanka’s best batsman in the ODIs. With de Kock possessing scores of 26 and 25 at Newlands, Mendis can be considered as WK. So too can Dickwella, but his form has been poor on this tour.
- Thisara Perera has scores of 58, 61, 0, 57 and 43 in his last five T20Is.
- Imran Tahir loves Sri Lanka. He has taken 13 wickets in eight T20Is against them, averaging just 12.40 (econ. 5.40). It is the only team he has 10+ wickets against in T20Is.
- Kagiso Rabada took eight wickets in four ODIs in the recent series.
- Isuru Udana offers runs down the order. He scored 110 runs in three ODIs in the recent series.
- Akila Dananjaya took 2/15 (4) the last time he played South Africa. Conditions will be different to Colombo, though.
Option 1:
Option 2:
Stats and Facts
- Head-to-Head in T20Is: Matches 10, South Africa 5, Sri Lanka 5.
- Sri Lanka won the T20I series in their last visit to South Africa in 2017. This included a five-wicket win in Cape Town.
- Sri Lanka have won just six of their last 20 T20Is.
Match Prediction
The shortest format might help turn the fortunes around of Sri Lanka in white-ball cricket.
However, South Africa are looking too strong at home. The Proteas should win and take a 1-0 series lead.
Thanks for reading!
Also read: 5 big predictions for IPL 2019.
South Africa vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Preview Dream11. SA vs SL 1st T20I Preview Dream11 Prediction
