South Africa will welcome Sri Lanka’s ODI team for a five-game series which gets underway on Sunday at the Wanderers.
The Proteas and their Sri Lankan opponents will be looking to put the finishing touches on their World Cup preparations in this series.
South Africa inflicted a three-two series defeat on Sri Lanka when they visited the island last year, but the tourists will take some confidence from their recent Test series win over the Proteas, even in this different format.
South Africa v Sri Lanka | Sunday, 3 March | The Wanderers, Johannesburg | 10:00
To Win Match
South Africa 37/100
Tie 35/1
Sri Lanka 21/10
South Africa
The Proteas head into this series without Hashim Amla, who has been left out for at least the first three ODIs. Whether he returns after that or, indeed, misses out on the final two matches and the World Cup, this series will be a glimpse into a post-Amla future.
Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen have, so far, made the most of their opportunities and with Amla out will get another shot to press their case for World Cup inclusion.
Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi is fit again, giving South Africa a formidable looking bowling attack that also includes Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn and limited-overs maestro Andile Phehlukwayo. Phehlukwayo might be made to duke it out with Dwaine Pretorius for an all-rounder’s spot, but his marked improvement with the willow in recent times should give the Dolphins man the edge.
The series will also give us the first glimpse of Anrich Nortje on the global stage. The quick impressed in the Mzansi Super League, but an injury prevented him from making his international debut earlier in the summer.
The Proteas will be hopeful that the Wanderers pitch has more bounce and life in it than on their last two visits to the venue in ODI cricket.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have had a slew of problems through 2018 into 2019, but a Test series win and the return of Akila Dananjaya – cleared to bowl again after some remedial work on his action – will give the unit a lift.
The key man for Sri Lanka could very well be Thisara Perera, who can win a game with bat and ball and doesn’t know when to give up. He can be one of the most explosive finishers in the game and often pulls Sri Lanka out of the fire.
Lasith Malinga leads the team in this format and he took five wickets in the Islanders’ warm-up match against a CSA Invitational XI to help the team to victory over a talented crop of young South African cricketers.
Sri Lanka have named three uncapped players in their 17-man squad in the form of batsman Oshada Fernando, ambidextrous bowler Kamindu Mendis and all-rounder Priyamal Perera.
Verdict: South Africa (37/100)
The Proteas should have the edge over Sri Lanka, who have struggled to get over the line in ODIs in the last two years.
