Sri Lanka vs South Africa, 2nd ODI: Match Predictions – Who will win the match South Africa or Sri Lanka?

The 2nd ODI will be played at the same venue and the home team will quickly want to make a comeback in the series and not let it drift beyond control.

Published - 31 Jul 2018, 21:57 IST | Updated - 31 Jul 2018, 21:57 IST

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After facing a lot of criticisms and questions on their ability to produce a decent enough performance in the subcontinent South Africa finally opened their account. The victory in the first ODI to a great extent has set the tone for the series. The Proteas have a potent bowling line-up and Sri Lankan batsmen struggle against quality pace as well as spin. It will thus become an interesting battle and determine the flow of this five-match ODI series.

This game is also to be played at the same venue in Dambulla and not a lot will change. Though there was not a lot the pitch did in the 1st ODI but the Sri Lankan batsmen were flummoxed by a charged up Kagiso Rabada who ran through the top order and pushed them on the backfoot early on. Sri Lanka will have to show a lot more maturity along with better commitment and application in this game for the outcome to be different

Pitch

The pitch will offer as much assistance to the spinners as it did in the first match. It isn’t a rank turner but batting isn’t easy, however, if someone invests the time to get used to the slowness there are rewards on offer. Win the toss bat first again while chasing isn’t a really bad option either.

Team Combination

Sri Lanka

It is high time the Sri Lankan batting delivers, they were almost hopeless in the previous game as Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, skipper Angelo Mathews, Shehan Jayasuriya four among their top six were dismissed for single-digit scores one of the two who didn’t Upul Tharanga just got 10. They were in a terrible situation as Rabada ran riot and then chinaman Tabraiz Shamsi also added to their miseries.

It was only because of the 92-run partnership between the two Pereras that they managed to get past 100 runs. Their bowling attack has been hampered as fast bowler Lahiru Kumara split a webbing on his left hand during the 1st ODI and could be replaced by Kasun Rajitha. There is not a lot they can change apart from their own performances.

Predicted XI: Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews (C), Shehan Jayasuriya, Thisara Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Suranga Lakmal, Lakshan Sandakan, Kasun Rajitha

South Africa

South Africa won the match quite comfortably and most things fell in place – their lead pacer took four wickets and the only spinner replicated his performance but they have a major concern. It is the form of Hashim Amla, once the most consistent batsman in this line-up Amla is now struggling to get runs in his favourite country. He was dismissed by Akila Dhananjaya in the previous encounter failing to read a googly and his stumps were off the ground.

South Africa will want to force another victory in the series in Colombo tomorrow and try to press the Lankans into submission who seem to be crumbling already.

Predicted XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis (C), JP Duminy, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi