SA v SL 1st ODI Preview: South Africa firm favourites but Sri Lanka confident after T20 triumph

After a disastrous Test series, Sri Lanka came back strongly in the T20I series to clinch their first series victory on South African soil by winning the 3-match series 2-1. It will surely be a boost for the islanders given their fragility, especially in the batting department. South Africa played a relatively inexperienced line-up in the T20I series. This will also be the last limited overs assignment for both the teams ahead of the Champions Trophy in England later in the year.

The bilateral 5-match series will kick off in Port Elizabeth tomorrow which also allows both the teams to finalise their team selection, strategies and combinations ahead of the much-awaited Champions Trophy in June. With the eight-team tournament coming close, each game in the series will be that much crucial for both the teams in getting their combinations right.

Team News

Sri Lanka

The visitors will be the more worried unit and has more questions to answer ahead of the ODI series. Captain Angelo Mathews has missed out on the last two limited-overs assignment for Sri Lanka including the tri-series triumph in Zimbabwe. The youngsters were shuffled for most of the matches which denied them the balance and stability in the middle overs. Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Perera and Jeffrey Vandersay are the three players from the final of the Tri-series XI who missed out for the current series.

Upul Tharanga whose place in the team was in doubt a few months back has gone on to become Sri Lanka’s captain but his batting position in the team still remains a question mark. They have to figure out whether he is better suited to opening or batting in the middle order. Tharanga has scored a lot of runs batting up the order so his experience might keep in good stead.

Also read- Sri Lanka announce squad for ODI series against South Africa

But despite being the overwhelming underdogs for the tournament they will gain heart from the fact that they picked up their first trophy on South African soil with a spirited performance in the T20I series. Niroshan Dickwella has been in terrific form opening the batting and has been instrumental in Sri Lanka’s success in the T20I series. His form up the order will be a boost for the visitors ahead of the Champions Trophy in England.

South Africa

South Africa, on the other hand, will be bolstered by the return of some main players but despite that, they will miss out on the services of Rilee Rossouw and Kyle Abbott to Kolpak deals. Both the players were picked up as Kolpak players in the England’s county Championship. AB de Villiers is set to return after a long lay-off. He looked in no discomfort in the final ODI and his form will be crucial to South Africa’s chances in the series and beyond.

Chris Morris will play an important role opening the bowling. Lungi Ngidi who was set to make his ODI debut in the series following impressive performances in the T20 format will miss out with an abdomen injury. He had wrecked the Sri Lankan top order in two of the 3 matches. Imran Tahir will continue to be South Africa’s first choice spinner followed by Tabraiz Shamsi. The left-arm spinner hasn’t been able to fulfil his potential in the international circuit but given his uncanny action.

The pitch is expected to assist the spinners and South Africa might be tempted to go both of them. Losing some players through Kolpak has really hurt South Africa but given the home conditions, they will start slightly ahead in the first encounter. The AB factor will also play an important role in the outcome of the match. With genuine spinners in the Sri Lankan ranks, it won’t be a surprise if they cause an upset.

Toss: South Africa won the toss and opted to field

South Africa (Playing XI): Q de Kock, Amla, du Plessis, de Villiers (c), Duminy, Miller, Morris, Parnell, Phehlukwayo, Rabada, Tahir

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Dickwella, Weerakkody, Mendis, Chandimal, Tharanga (c), de Silva, Gunaratne, Kulasekara, Vandersay, Lakmal, Sandakan

Stats that matter

0- Sri Lanka have not played an ODI at the venue in the last 13 years.

19 – Upul Tharanga is the 19th player to captain Sri Lanka and 3rd captain on this tour thus far.