ICC World Cup 2019 Match 35, Sri Lanka v South Africa: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Mathematically, Sri Lanka are still in with a chance of making the final four. They need to win their remaining three matches and then hope other results go their way. The first of these games, against South Africa at Chester-le-Street on Friday, 28 June, and the second one against the West Indies on July 1 are against teams that are out of contention for a semi-final place, before Sri Lanka play their final league clash against India at Headingley.

For South Africa it’s been a tale of missed opportunities and sheer bad luck. They lost Dale Steyn early in the tournament and their key fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Chris Morris were far from their best. Same with the batsmen, too. Hashim Amla has been out of form for most parts, Quinton de Kock has been inconsistent and Faf du Plessis has failed to covert starts. They will play for pride.

Sri Lanka will take a lot of confidence from their win over England and will look to carry that into this game and the next. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne has been a solid presence at the top and Angelo Mathews’ anchoring knock that carried his team to a respectable total against England should have set an example for the rest of the middle order on how to build an innings.

But the biggest positive for the 1996 champions in their last clash was their bowling. Lasith Malinga was devastating with his yorkers and the other bowlers followed the senior pro to restrict a power-packed England lineup. They should back themselves against a South African side low on confidence.

Head to head

South Africa lead the head-to-head tally 43-31 and have recent history in their favour. South Africa won the last ODI series between the two sides 5-0. At the World Cup, too, South Africa hold the aces, having won three games to Sri Lanka’s one.

Key players

Faf du Plessis (South Africa): The South Africa captain was hurt after the defeat to Pakistan which knocked the Proteas out of the race for final four. This is his chance to lead from the front and show that South Africa are no pushovers.

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka): Malinga has proven time and again just when he’s been written off that his yorkers and variations haven’t lost their effect. Against England he led Sri Lanka to victory with the ball and who knows if he goes on to repeat the feat he achieved against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup – four wickets in four balls.

Likely XIs

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis (c), David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Beuran Hendricks, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir.

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kusal Perera (wk), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Jeevan Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Nuwaan Pradeep.

Prediction

South Africa restore some pride by winning their second game of the World Cup.