SA vs SL Match Prediction- 1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa 2024

South Africa host Sri Lanka gear up for a two-match SA vs SLTest series starting November 27 at Durban's Kingsmead Stadium with World Test Championship (WTC) finals hopes hanging in the balance.

The fifth-placed Proteas (4 wins, 3 losses) need victories in all four remaining Tests – two each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan – to secure a spot in the Lord's final.

They enter the series with momentum after dominating Bangladesh, where Tony de Zorzi and rookie Tristan Stubbs led the batting charge.

Third-placed Sri Lanka (5-4) sits in a stronger position but must win on South African soil to keep their finals dream alive. The spotlight will be on key contests particularly between South Africa's in-form pacer Kagiso Rabada (26 wickets in 2024) and Sri Lanka's steady bat Kusal Mendis.

The hosts' spin ace Keshav Maharaj also with 26 wickets this year poses a threat to Sri Lanka's middle order.

Also read: SA vs SL Match Preview- 1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa 2024

SA vs SL Team Analysis

South Africa

Temba Bavuma will be leading the South African team in the upcoming match. The onus will be on the captain to lead the team from the front.

Sri Lanka

Dhananjaya De Silva will be leading the Sri Lankan team and will be keen to lead the team from the front.

SA vs SL Key Factors

Pitch Conditions

The South Africa vs. Sri Lanka Test match on November 27 at Kingsmead, Durban, promises exciting cricket, but weather and pitch conditions will play a role.

The pitch at Kingsmead has always given support to pacers, especially in the early days, by offering some swing and seam movement. As the match proceeds, spinners might come into play because the surface has the tendency to dry out.

Form and Fitness

All the players in both squads are fit and available for the upcoming first test between the SA vs SL Tests.

Tactical Acumen

South Africa

South Africa’s strength lies in their world-class bowling attack, featuring pacers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, alongside spinner Keshav Maharaj. The Proteas will aim to exploit the pace-friendly conditions at Kingsmead by maximizing early movement with the new ball.

Their strategy will hinge on aggressive field placements to force errors from Sri Lanka’s batters in the opening session.

Additionally, the return of captain Temba Bavuma adds stability to their top order, while Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi bring depth to their middle order.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka will need to counter South Africa’s pace attack by focusing on solid technique and rotation of strike. Their batters, including Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, must negate the Proteas’ early advantage by playing defensively in the first session and capitalizing on loose deliveries later.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers, led by Asitha Fernando, must be precise in length, especially against a batting unit prone to collapse under sustained pressure. Spin could also play a vital role in the middle overs, where Sri Lanka’s spinners may aim to restrict scoring and create breakthroughs.

SA vs SL Match Prediction- 1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa 2024

SA vs SL Score Prediction

If SA bats first

If SL bats first

SA vs SL - Players to perform prediction

SA: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Gerald Coetzee, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada are the key players for South Africa.

SL: Dhananjaya De Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, and Vishwa Fernando are the key players for Sri Lanka.

Best Batsman Prediction

Who will score the most runs for SA in the match: David Bedingham or Tristan Stubbs

Who will score the most runs for SL in the match: Pathum Nissanka or Kamindu Mendis

Best Bowler Prediction

Who will pick the most wickets for SA in the match: Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada

Who will pick the most wickets for SL in the match: Vishwa Fernando or Lahiru Kumara

Conclusion - Who will win the match?

South Africa will win the first Test against Sri Lanka, given their dominant home record and balanced squad. With a strong pace attack led by Kagiso Rabada and experienced batters like Aiden Markram, the Proteas have the edge in Durban's conditions which makes them clear favorites for victory