South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa 2019, Today Match Prediction 24 Mar 2019

n/a vs srl Match Prediction & Analysis

South Africa are on the verge of clean sweeping the 3-match T20I series at home as they won the first two matches against Sri Lanka at home. The third T20I will be played at the iconic Wanderers stadium. After a promising start to the South Africa tour, Sri Lanka will be looking for a consolation win in the third T20I.

The historic Test series win might have had the Sri Lankan fans hoping for a much better performance in the shorter formats of the game. However, 5 ODIs and 2 T20Is later Sri Lanka have zero wins to show. South Africa look like a very different side in the limited format and must be keen to press on for a clean sweep. It will be interesting to see if Sri Lanka can stop the South African juggernaut at the Wanderers.

TEAMS PREVIEW

South Africa Preview

After a near-choke in the first T20I, South Africa won the second T20I with ease and effectively clinched the series with one match still to go. The 16-run victory could have been bigger if not for the late charge by Udana.

Losing the toss batting first South Africa lost Markram early. However, Reeza Hendricks and, man of the match Rassie van der Dussen joined hands for a 116 run partnership to propel South Africa’s innings to 125 within 15 overs. Both reached their respective half-centuries in the process. A quickfire 33 by JP Duminy meant South Africa could set a target of 181 for Sri Lanka. The guests were nowhere in the chase as they lost 7 wickets for 83 by the 14th over. Some late resistance by Udana delayed the inevitable.

Dale Steyn, Chris Morris, and Shamsi were the pick of the bowlers for South Africa picking 7 wickets among themselves. South Africa must be keen to continue the winning ways as they have not lost a single since the ODI series began.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

JP Duminy(c), Kagiso Rabada, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Imran Tahir, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Dale Steyn, Sinethemba Qeshile (wk), L Simpala

South Africa Actual Playing XI:

Jean-Paul Duminy, Junior Dala, Tabraiz Shamsi, Reeza Hendricks, Lutho Sipamla, Sinethemba Qeshile, Aiden Markram, Chris Morris, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo

Sri Lanka Preview

The margin of defeat in the second T20I might soothe Sri Lanka but they know that they were never in the game once they lost their top order without making much of an impact. Sri Lanka would be hoping for their batters to come good in the third and the final match of this long tour.

Winning the toss fielding first Sri Lanka did manage to get an early breakthrough. But they found themselves fetching the ball for Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen as the duo set the platform for the 181-target that South Africa eventually set. Sri Lanka’s chase was cut short in the very first over when Dale Steyn took out Fernando and Mendis. Sri Lanka never recovered from that and kept on losing wickets as the asking rate kept going up. Udana’s excellent late charge of 84 in just 48 balls never really threatened the target as Sri Lanka fell short by 16.

Sri Lanka’s bowling did alright on a flat track but the batters need to assume more responsibility if they are to end the tour on a high.

Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:

Lasith Malinga(c), Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Kamindu Mendis

Sri Lanka Actual Playing XI:

Niroshan Dickwella, Akila Dananjaya, Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Perera, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Suranga Lakmal, JDF Vandersay, Lasith Malinga

Weather Conditions

The Wanderers is an iconic ground in South Africa. It is a batting paradise as 434 was once chased at the same venue. It has relatively shorter boundaries and the pitch remains true throughout. The chasing teams have won 15 of the 27 T20Is played at this venue.

Toss: To Bowl

The team winning the Toss should choose to Bowl first at this venue to maneuver the chase according to the target in the true batting conditions.