Sri Lanka vs South Africa, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Today Match Prediction 24 May 2019

srl vs n/a Match Prediction & Analysis

South Africa and Sri Lanka will lock horns in the 2nd warm-up game of ICC Cricket World Cup at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Friday.

In this warm-up game, South Africa will be looking to put in a clinical performance with bat and ball against Sri Lanka. Skipper Faf du Plessis will be looking to field his full-strength side for this fixture.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka will need to raise their game with bat and ball in order to get a positive result out of this warm-up game. Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne will be focused to make sure that Sri Lanka can put on a good show with bat and ball against South Africa.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Sri Lanka Preview

Sri Lanka will need to put in an exceptional performance to upstage South Africa in this warm-up game. The side managed to clinch the two-match one-day series played against Scotland in Scotland. Newly-appointed ODI Captain Dimuth Karunaratne will be looking to lead from the front and turn things around for Sri Lanka in limited-overs cricket.

In the batting department, the side will be depending on the likes of Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Perera and Angelo Matthews to do the bulk of the scoring against Nottinghamshire. Kusal Perera and Captain Dimuth Karunaratne scored crucial half-centuries to help Sri Lanka seal the one-day series against Scotland. Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, and Lahiru Thiramanne will need to produce consistent scores for the side in these warm-up games.

All-rounder Angelo Matthews will be looking to find a form with the bat in this warm-up game. Matthews has been struggling with a hamstring problem in the past couple of years. Sri Lanka will be hoping that he can remain fit and available for this year’s World Cup.

The lower-order consists of Thisara Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Isuru Udana, who have the ability to score quickly in the later stages of the innings.

In the bowling department, the side will be reliant on the likes of Lasith Malinga and Suranga Lakmal to deliver breakthroughs with new-ball. Nuwan Pradeep will be designated third seamer for Sri Lanka for this warm-up game. Isuru Udana and Jeffrey Vandersay will fight for a place in the playing XI.

Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:

Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Angelo Matthews, Thisara Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Isuru Udana/Jeffrey Vandersay, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal.

South Africa Preview

Coming into this warm-up game, South Africa will fancy their chances of doing well against Sri Lanka at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

In the batting department, South Africa will be relying on the likes of Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, and Faf du Plessis to deliver runs with the bat in this game. Opening batsman Quinton de Kock is leading run-scorer for South Africa so far this season with 469 runs in 8 matches at an average of 58.62. He will be looking to put in a decent score for South Africa in this game.

Skipper Faf du Plessis has shown excellent form with the bat in one-day cricket so far this year. He will be looking to make an impression with the bat in this warm-up game against Sri Lanka. Hashim Amla will be desperate to find form in these warm-up games in order to prepare well for ICC Cricket World Cup.

Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller and JP Duminy will make up the middle-order for South Africa for this game.  Van der Dussen has shown exceptional form and ability to earn his place in South Africa’s World Cup squad. Miller and Duminy will need to produce consistency with the bat if South Africa wants to go the distance in this year’s tournament.

In the bowling department, Pace bowler Kagiso Rabada has been a standout performer for the side in limited-overs cricket this season. He has claimed 13 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 28.76.  Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir and Andile Phehlukwayo will other bowling options for South Africa for this game.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

Faf du Plessis (captain), Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, David Miller, JP Duminy, Rassie van der Dussen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Imran Tahir, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada.

Weather Conditions

The pitch will certainly be perfect for batting. The bowlers will need to make use of their variations to get wickets on this surface. The weather forecast for the game on Friday is going to be cloudy skies with a gentle breeze.

Venue

Sophia Gardens in Cardiff is one of the most prominent cricket venues in the UK. At this venue, Sri Lanka played a knockout-game against Pakistan in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. Sri Lanka has lost all their games played at this venue. On the other hand, South Africa record is not that great and have won only one game out of four played at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

Toss: To Bowl

The side that wins the toss would be looking to bowl first and make use of early conditions. The surface tends to be a little sluggish in the first half of the game. Majority of one-day games played at Sophia Gardens have been won sides batting second.