SA v SL 3rd T20I, Preview: Series at stake as big stars comeback for Proteas

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Lakshan Sandakan Sri Lanka
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Lakshan Sandakan. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The series decider will be all about the return of AB de Villiers. The dynamic batsman is set to make a comeback in South Africa colors after almost 6 months. The hosts will take on Sri Lanka in the final T20I as the action moves to Cape Town for the ultimate showdown. Proteas will surely be high on confidence after receiving the big boost in the form of AB de Villiers.

However, the inclusion of AB de Villiers would mean that someone will have to make way for him in the playing eleven. Sri Lanka will be happy to see themselves playing in the decider. They notched up their first win on the tour riding on the heroics of Angelo Mathews. Their bowling has come up good in the recent times. It is only about their batters who need to step up to the occasion in order beat the South African side in their own backyard.

Much to their disliking, though, Angelo Mathews has been ruled out of the final game due to an injury. The Lankan skipper has left the team and the visitors are sure to be missing his services.

Team News

South Africa

South Africa will be a happy camp to see their hero ABD return to the national set-up. AB de Villiers recently hit a 103-ball 134 in the domestic one-day fixture for the Northerns. His form coming into the match looks great. Theunis de Bruyn is most likely to be the one making way for the veteran player.

The batting has been a key concern for the South Africa team in the two matches thus far. Their new guns are yet to make a mark in the series. A lot of expected from hard-hitting opener JJ Smuts but his willow has largely been quiet. On the other hand, their bowling has been very impressive.

Wayne Parnell has been well supported by newbie Lungisani Ngidi, who has returned with figures of 2/12 and 4/19 in the two matches thus far. The spin department has excelled too with Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso bowling tight lines and lengths.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka have been hit hard by the exclusion of Angelo Mathews before the final T20I. It was Mathews who had guided them to their first win on the tour with a gritty fifty. He will not be available for the ODI series either. Pacer Nuwan Pradeep is also injured and almost out of the fixture due to a hand injury.

Danushka Gunathilaka is having a back injury that sees him out of the final T20 fixture as well. The triple blow sees the Sri Lankans dented before the commencement of the game. Dinesh Chandimal will lead the team for the decider. The final match of the series provides a good opportunity for players like Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva to step to the occasion and finish on a high before heading into the 5 match ODI series.

They will take pride in the way their bowlers restricted the South African line up to a mere 113 in the second ODI. Dinesh Chandimal, the senior most player in the team at the moment, has not been impressive on the tour thus far. The team management will be hopeful for the skipper to deliver the goods on the day.

Toss: South Africa won the toss & elected to bat first

South Africa (Playing XI): JJ Smuts, Reeza Hendricks, AB de Villiers, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien(c), Mangaliso Mosehle(w), Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dane Paterson, Imran Tahir, Lungisani Ngidi

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Upul Tharanga, D de Silva, Mendis, Dickwella, Chandimal, Gunaratne, T de Silva, Prasanna, Kulasekara, Udana, Lakshan Sandakan

StAttack

1. Sri Lanka are yet to win a T20 series (of more than 2 matches) since their World T20 win in 2014.

2. Lakshan Sandakan has the distinction of taking four-wicket haul on debut for Sri Lanka across different formats. The only other player to do so for Sri Lanka is Ashanta de Mel.

3. Dinesh Chandimal has led Sri Lanka in T20Is in 21 matches – the second most after Kumar Sangakkara (22 matches).

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