South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I preview, likely XIs: Sri Lanka look to arrest slide in T20Is

The ordeal of the ODIs is over for Sri Lanka. Is another one set to begin?

Sri Lanka were whitewashed 5-0, the visitors barely mustering a whimper in the five-match series, with all of Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, and Anrich Nortje having memorable series.

In the T20Is, a whole host of them will be rested from the second game. Nortje will be involved in the T20Is, along with Aiden Markram, also uncapped, and the 20-year-old batsman Sinethemba Qeshile. South Africa will hope to secure 1-0 lead by then.

All signs point to them being able to do just that. Sri Lanka have been extremely underwhelming with the white ball – they didn’t muster a score in excess of 250 in the ODIs, and thrice fell for scores below 200. South Africa had it all too easy, securing victories by huge margins.

What can Sri Lanka do to stop the home side? For starters, show some fight. Lasitha Malinga has openly criticized his players – that anger should be channeled into performances. They will hope the likes of Jeffrey Vandersay, the leg-spinner returning to the side after three years, and Suranga Lakmal can spark some change.

Sri Lanka will be desperate for them to do that.

Head to head

South Africa and Sri Lanka have crashed in 10 T20Is over the years. Interestingly, the record’s all square between them, with each side winning five. Even more surprisingly, three of those losses came most recently for South Africa – twice in 2017, and once in 2018. All of which came at home too.

Sri Lanka have hope.

Venue details

South Africa have a poor record at Newlands in T20Is. In 10 matches, they have won just four. One of those six defeats came against Sri Lanka in January 2017, by five wickets.

History, in short, points to a Sri Lanka victory, irrespective of what recent form suggests.

Key Players

Quinton de Kock (South Africa): Quinton de Kock is the biggest threat for Sri Lanka. That much was evident in the ODIs, when he tallied 353 runs at 70.60 and a strike-rate of 109.96 with one century and three half-centuries. He will look to continue his imperious form.

Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka): Kusal Mendis is Sri Lanka’s one big hope. He finished as Sri Lanka’s top scorer in both Tests and ODIs, and has been their most consistent batsman on tour. If Sri Lanka are to avoid embarrassment, he will need to be on top.

Likely XIs

South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis (c), Rassie van der Dussen, JP Duminy, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi

Sri Lanka: Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Thisara Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga (c), Lakshan Sandakan  

Prediction

Sri Lanka have fared well against South Africa in T20Is, but on recent form, South Africa will win this.