Sri Lanka vs South Africa 2018, One-Off T20I, Colombo - Match Preview

After delivering a thrilling ODI series, the action shifts to the shortest format of the game. Sri Lanka has a lot of burden on the shoulders after losing ODI’s 2-3 to South Africa.

Sri Lanka likes to carry on the momentum:

After failing to deal with Proteas in the first three games of the series, Angelo Mathews-led Sri Lanka came back strongly to register victories in the last couple of games.

Though the hosts lost the series, the team would love to carry on the momentum in the T20I game as well. The inclusion of Dasun Shanaka lifted the souls in Sri Lankan dugout, and Mathews too got back to his own.

The bowling department heavily relies on the performance of Akila Dananjaya. He will be the go-to bowler for Mathews again in the T20I series especially, after his remarkable effort in the fifth ODI.

Surprisingly, Sri Lanka left Niroshan Dickwella for the one-off T20I. The swashbuckling opener, Dinesh Chandimal will take the vacant role after being sidelined due to the ban imposed on him.

Sri Lanka would like to return with 2-1 (3 formats):

South Africa thoroughly got outplayed in Tests by Sri Lankans. However, the Proteas made a strong comeback by thrashing Islanders in the first three ODI games to seal the series.

Now, the drama shifts from ODI to T20I. Meanwhile, the Duminy-led side would like to walk away with a victory. The win at Colombo will see either team winning two of the three formats on tour.

On paper, South Africa’s line-up looks quite dangerous. However, it was the application which they missed in the last couple of ODI’s, and probably, Duminy doesn’t want to repeat it.

The team combinations will also be a great headache for South Africa with all the players having the ability to deliver the goods.

Venue – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Time and Date – Tuesday 14 August, 01:30 GMT, 19:00 local

Weather Conditions: Thunderstorms are in the forecast, and they might play a spoilsport as well. With a good drainage system, a rain-curtailed game might also go ahead.

Squads:

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (c), Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Upul Tharanga, Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya De Silva, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Akila Dhananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Isuru Udana, Kasun Rajitha

South Africa: JP Duminy (c), Hashim Amla, Junior Dala, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Lungisani Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi