South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa 2019, Today Match Prediction 16 Mar 2019

n/a vs srl Match Prediction & Analysis

After losing their Test series 2-0, South Africa have bounced back excellently in limited overs by winning the ODI series 4-0 going into the final and fifth ODI match. Skipper Faf Du Plessis and Quinton de Kock are in red hot form scoring runs every time they step into the cricket field. Amla misses out the ODI series due to personal reasons. David Miller and JP Duminy are the senior players in the middle order and needs to take more responsibilities with the bat. South Africa rich group of fast bowlers came to the fore this series. Anrich Nortje was excellent last match capturing 3 wickets early in the match. Kagiso rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Dale Steyn form a terrific pace bowling unit. Andile phehlukwayo is the first choice all-rounder in the team. Imran Tahir was rested last match but he was excellent in the matches he has played so far. 

Sri Lanka team`s last ODI victory seems like a distant memory and they need to can up with their A-game to win the final match to gain some momentum going into the T20I series.  Their top order and middle order seems not to score more than 20s and 30s which are not going to help the team`s total. In fact Isuru Udana`s counterattacking 78 in the last match from no.9 position is their highest score this series and second fifty for the Sri Lankan team. Their bowling seems too "toothless" and pose no threats to the South African batsmen. Skipper Malinga along with his pacers are struggling to get early wickets. Spinner Dananjaya de Silva captured 3 wickets last match but was not threatening to de rail the South African chase. Sri Lankan team needs to come out of this turmoil before the 2019 World cup begins. 

TEAMS PREVIEW

South Africa Preview

Key Players:

Aiden Markram – Markram returns to ODI team after impressive showing in the local format and he is a class player who can score runs with proper cricketing shots. He is a big match player too and a player to watch out for. 

Dale Steyn – Steyn faces stiff competition from Ngidi, Rabada and Nortje for the fast bowling slot. He has to prove himself so that he will not left behind in the healthy race to the playing XI.  

Stats from the series:

Quinton De Kock – 347 runs Avg. 86.75, Strike rate -113 (Hs-121, 50s-3, 100s-1)

Imran Tahir – 7 wickets at an economy of 3.5 RPO (BB -3/26)

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

Faf du Plessis(C), Quinton de Kock (Wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Dale Steyn, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada

South Africa Actual Playing XI:

Jean-Paul Duminy, Imran Tahir, Anrich Nortje, Rassie van der Dussen, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Faf du Plessis

Sri Lanka Preview

Key Players:

Isuru Udana – Udna returned to the team after a long time and played an excellent knock last match scoring 78 runs from no,9 position. He will look to prove his all-round skills to help his team in their first victory this series. 

Lasith Malinga –Malinga`s bowling has been below par this year and he needs to step up and be the team enforcer and lead from the front. His poor showing will have adverse effects in the team.   

Stats from the series:

Kusal Mendis– 146 runs Avg. 36.5, Strike rate -83 (Hs-60, 50s-1)

Dananjaya de Silva – 5 wickets at an economy of 5.3 RPO (BB -3/41)

Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:

Lasith Malinga (c), Kusal Mendis, Upul Tharanga, Avishka Fernando, Oshada Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Isuru Udana, Kamindu Mendis, Dananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Kasun Rajitha

Sri Lanka Actual Playing XI:

Akila Dananjaya, Avishka Fernando, Upul Tharanga, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis , Angelo Perera, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Oshada Fernando, Priyamal Perera, Lasith Malinga

Weather Conditions

Newland`s pitch will have a good balance between the bat and ball usually. The pitch will provide assistance to seam bowlers early in the innings with the hard new ball. The Average score in this pitch has been around 260-280- runs. No rain is expected at the venue on the match day.

Toss: WIN the toss, BOWL First

Teams find it easier to chase and with the presence of dew factor the spinners are negated in the second essay. Both teams will look to put the opposition to bat if they win the toss.