South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I preview, likely XIs: Can Sri Lanka get one right against new-look South Africa?

Sri Lanka will be buoyed after the first T20I. At long last, they managed to put in a performance with real grit and fight, and they nearly came out on the right side of the result. Lasith Malinga was once again excellent in the death, and had they got a few more runs, they would have sneaked this one.

As it turned out, South Africa won in the Super Over. And heading into the second match, they stand a chance to sweep another white-ball series against Sri Lanka. But the visitors are likely to be different animals this time around.

That performance in the first T20I would have only whetted their appetite for victory. However, as good as their performance was, there is no denying their batters still need to improve – Kusal Mendis scored a 29-ball 41, but nobody else crossed 19 thereafter. They managed a total of just 134/7.

As good as the visitors’ bowlers were, it’s their batsmen who need to improve. Perhaps the time is ripe for that, given a whole host of South Africa seniors will be rested for the final two T20Is – all of Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Kagiso Rabada and Imran Tahir will not play and part, and against a less experienced side, Sri Lanka might make a better fist of it.

And they must. The Test series victory seems a while back – they need a victory with the white ball to boost morale ahead of the World Cup. Will we see it in Centurion on Thursday?

Head to head

Sri Lanka have a decent record in T20Is against South Africa – in their 11 clashes over the years, Sri Lanka have won five times. The tally includes South Africa’s narrow victory in the first T20I.

However, that victory did help South Africa break an unwanted streak – they had lost the three previous matches against Sri Lanka, twice in 2017 and once in 2018. All of them at home.

Given Sri Lanka’s impressive performance in the first T20I, they’ll hope to make the history count.

Venue details

South Africa’s record at the Centurion isn’t great. In eight matches, they have lost four. The losses came against Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand. Their last T20I here, against Pakistan in February, ended in a 27-run defeat.

They’ve won in their only match against Sri Lanka though, in January 2017. It was a comfortable victory too, with South Africa winning by 19 runs.

The pitch here has traditionally been good for batting, but there’s a brief thunderstorm on the cards, and some overcast clouds might make it good for the bowlers.

Key players

Andile Phehlukwayo (South Africa): Phehlukwayo is on the up. He’s been putting in match-winning performances with the ball fairly often, and has made a decent fist of the it with the bat too. In the first T20I, he returned 3/25 to trouble Sri Lanka, and their floundering batsmen will be wary of him.

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka): Malinga may not be the bowler he once was, with little pace, but he is still unerringly accurate. His death bowling in the first T20I was immaculate, playing on South Africa’s nerves to force a tie. More of the same is expected from the captain.

Likely XIs

South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Rassie van de Dussen, Sinethemba Qeshile, JP Duminy (c), David Miller (wk), Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Dale Steyn, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi.

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

Prediction

Buoyed Sri Lanka to finally get one right.