Published on: Sep 10, 2021 3:00 pm IST|Updated on: Sep 10, 2021 3:07 pm IST
SL vs SA Dream11: Having won an ODI series after a long gap of 18 months, a confident Sri Lanka will now face South Africa in the first T20I here at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. With T20 World Cup just a month away, both teams will look to finalise their preparations. Sri Lanka will start their T20 World Cup campaign with the qualifiers while South Africa have directly qualified for the main draw. But in these conditions, expect SL to pose a greater threat to South Africans with their quality spin bowling options. On the other hand, SA too have some decent spinners in their line-up which makes this a mouth watering contest.
1st T20I, Sri Lanka vs South Africa
3-Match T20I series
10 September @ 7:00 PM IST
Form Guide: SL (recent last) L L L W W SA (recent last) L W W W W
ICC T20I Rankings: SL 9, SA 5
Ground: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Brief score of the last result at the venue: Sri Lanka 82/3 (14.3 overs) beat India 81/8 by 7 wickets on 29 July 2021.
Pitch Report: Another turning track is expected as we saw in the ODI series. Spinners are likely to bowl bulk of the overs from both sides. Rain is forecasted during the match time in Colombo.
Watch Sri Lanka vs South Africa Live Score and streaming on Sony Sports Network and Sony Liv.
SL Playing 11 (likely)
SA Playing 11 (likely)
READ: SL vs SA 1st T20I: Possible Playing 11 of South Africa
Avishka Fernando- The opener looked in good form in ODIs and will be expected to get big runs in T20Is. He is a quality player at the top and can get quick runs in the powerplay. Avishka Fernando T20I Stats: Runs 250, Avg. 13 Avishka Fernando T20I Stats against SA: Runs 17, Avg. 6
Quinton de Kock- The wicketkeeper-batsman will be expected to score freely and give SA a flying start. He is coming off a good season at the Hundred and will look to continue his blistering form. de Kock T20I Stats: Runs 1605, Avg. 33 de Kock T20I Stats against SL: Runs 107, Avg. 15
Wanindu Hasaranga- The allrounder will be a big threat in this format. He has the variations to pick up wickets and also has the ability to get crucial runs lower down the order. Hasaranga T20I Stats: Runs 192, Bat Avg. 15, Wkts 33, Bowl Avg. 14 Hasaranga Stats in last T20I series: Runs 29, Bat Avg. 14, Wkts 7, Bowl Avg. 9
Tabraiz Shamsi- Shamsi is the No. 1 bowler in this format and is also the highest wicket-taker in T20Is this year. On a wicket expected to aid spinners, he can pick up big wickets. Shamsi T20I Stats: Wkts 45, Bowl Avg. 22 Shamsi T20I Stats against SL: Wkts 4, Bowl Avg. 15
Sri Lanka News
Injury update, unavailability: Kusal Perera will be back after missing the ODI series and is expected to slot straight back into the side.
Expected changes and strategy:
South Africa News
Injury update and unavailability:
Team 1
BATSMEN: A Markram, R van der Dussen, A Fernando, C Asalanka (VC) WICKET-KEEPERS: Q de Kock (C) ALL-ROUNDERS: W Hasaranga, D Pretorius BOWLERS: K Rabada, D Chameera, K Maharaj, M Theekshana
Team 2
BATSMEN: D Shanaka, K Perera (C), C Asalanka, D Miller WICKET-KEEPERS: H Klaasen ALL-ROUNDERS: D de Silva, K Mendis BOWLERS: A Dananjaya, K Rabada (VC), T Shamsi, C Karunaratne
Team 3
BATSMEN: A Markram (VC), A Fernando, D Miller, R Hendricks WICKET-KEEPERS: H Klaasen, Q de Kock ALL-ROUNDERS: W Hasaranga (C) BOWLERS: T Shamsi, D Chameera, K Maharaj, M Theekshana
Team 4
BATSMEN: K Perera, D Shanaka, R Hendricks, R van der Dussen, A Fernando WICKET-KEEPERS: Q de Kock (VC) ALL-ROUNDERS: W Hasaranga, D Pretorius BOWLERS: C Karunaratne, T Shamsi (C), B Fortuin
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