🏏Cricket World Cup 2023: Match#4: Sri Lanka vs South Africa on 7 Oct

🏏Cricket World Cup 2023: Match #4 - Sri Lanka vs South Africa at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on 7 Oct 2023 at 2:00 PM IST🏏

In warm and humid Delhi, it could be South Africa's batters vs Sri Lanka's spinners

South Africa look a well-oiled machine, but if the surface in Delhi plays true to tradition, Sri Lanka could make a contest of it - they'll have to do it without their star man Maheesh Theekshana though!

Sri Lanka could hardly have picked a tougher opponent to face first up at the World Cup than South Africa.

The Sri Lankans come into this game with big question marks over their batting and have an injury-weakened bowling attack; South Africa, in contrast, seem to be a well-oiled machine, primed for the flat tracks this World Cup is expected to offer.

Where South Africa might have some concerns is in their bowling. With Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala ruled out with injury, they are lacking a bit of bite up front and at the death. Then, in the spin department, too, with just Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi available, their options are not as varied as is the case with some other teams (such as Sri Lanka). But they more than make up for this with a batting line-up in fine fettle.

When Miller is comfortable with his hitting, he won't stop

Indeed, while Sri Lanka fret about the lack of power-hitters at six and seven, South Africa have stacked their line-up with them. At the top, there's Quinton de Kock, and if he doesn't get you, well, then there's the middle order of Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller. And this is all before you get to the lower-middle order, which has Marco Jansen and Andile Phehlukwayo. Of them, only Phehlukwayo strikes at less than 90 (88.04) in ODIs.

Sri Lanka have just a solitary batter in the top six hitting at above 90, Kusal Perera. But he's just returning from injury and it's not certain he can churn out runs consistently over 50 overs.

In terms of others who can score big runs fast, Kusal Mendis is the obvious shout, but even with his blistering 158 laying a platform, Sri Lanka's lower-middle order wasn't able to capitalise against Afghanistan in their warm-up game. There is solidity after that in Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva, but if quick runs are needed, there really only is Dasun Shanaka, who has been in such woeful recent form that he was nearly dropped from the squad altogether.

Fortunately for Sri Lanka, this game is taking place in Delhi. On a pitch that is usually slow and crumbly, Sri Lanka have the right bowlers.

In their last 15 games, Sri Lanka have bowled out the opposition in 14. Sure, the ease with which both Bangladesh and Afghanistan brushed them aside in the warm-ups highlighted the task their bowlers are likely to face, but in Delhi, they might just have their way.

They will however have to do so without their star man. Maheesh Theekshana has linked up with the squad late, but this game comes too soon for him in his recovery from a hamstring tear.* This means the spin bowling onus will be squarely on Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha and Dhananjaya.

South Africa meanwhile won't have fond memories of Delhi, with their last outing there in October 2022 seeing them skittled for 99. Though if the surface turns out more like the one that was in place during their T20I chase of 212 just a few months prior to that, Sri Lanka will have their work cut out for them.

Tag Credit: Sutapasima

On October 7, the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is set to host South Africa (SA) and Sri Lanka (SL) in match No. 4 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Both teams are in good form and are eager to kick off their World Cup campaign with a victory. They have faced each other a total of 90 times in this format, with South Africa emerging victorious in 45 matches and Sri Lanka clinching 33 wins.

As we turn our attention to the weather forecast, it is expected to be warm, with a temperature of around 31°C. The humidity levels will be relatively high at 89%, and there will be a gentle breeze blowing at 4.1 km/h. However, visibility might pose a challenge, as it is expected to be limited to three kilometres.

The game day also brings a 38% chance of rain, which could potentially impact the proceedings. With the match scheduled to commence at 2:00 PM IST, the dew factor is poised to play a significant role, making conditions difficult in the latter half of the game.

Arun Jaitley Stadium is favourable for both batters and bowlers

The Arun Jaitley Stadium is renowned for its batting-friendly pitch, with shorter boundaries and a fast outfield that favours the batters. As the game progresses, the pacers may find some assistance, particularly in the later stages, while the spinners are likely to dominate during the middle overs. Given these conditions, winning the toss and opting to chase could be a smart move for the captains.

The average first-innings score on this pitch is around 230 runs, indicating that the bowlers can make an impact early on. However, history shows that teams batting second have a strong track record at this ground, boasting a winning percentage of 60%. Over the years, the pitch has evolved into a slow and challenging surface for batting, but once a batter settles in and gets accustomed to the conditions, they can capitalize on the crumbly and dusty nature of the black-soiled pitch as the game unfolds.

In the spotlight: Aiden Markram and Dhananjaya de Silva

While Klaasen is undoubtedly South Africa's man of the moment, ticking along with him has been Aiden Markram, who is in the midst of the best year of his ODI career. His 11 innings in 2023 have so far brought 577 runs at 64.11 and a strike rate of 119.70 - significantly above his career figures of 35.42 and 96.35 - to go with an equally impressive record in T20Is and Tests. He has the ability and resolve to navigate slow turners, which could prove crucial in Delhi, especially in the middle overs, where Sri Lanka throttle with spin so well. That Markram has a solid record against Sri Lanka - second only to his record against Australia among Test-playing nations - is a bonus. If the Delhi surface is conducive to turn, Markram's experience could be massive.

Sri Lanka's spate of injuries means that Dhananjaya de Silva will likely start this tournament with an unexpectedly critical role in terms of providing team balance. With the bat, coming in at six, he will be tasked with providing impetus in the latter overs alongside his out-of-sorts captain - a role he's not exactly suited for considering his career ODI strike rate of 78.80, but one that Sri Lanka will need him to settle into quickly. Then with ball, with Theekshana ruled out, Dunith Wellalage still fairly green and Shanaka potentially only fit enough to bat, there's every chance he'll be required to bowl 10 overs - something he's done just 11 times over 67 innings.

Stats and trivia

• The last time Sri Lanka played in Delhi, in 2009, the match was called off because of a dangerous surface
• In 26 ODIs, only twice have 300-plus scores been recorded at the venue
• In six World Cup games between them, South Africa have won four, including the last three, with one ending in a tie. Sri Lanka's solitary win came in their first exchange, in 1992

As anyone who has braved a day's play at Delhi's perpetually sun-struck Arun Jaitley Stadium could attest, shade isn't part of the package. But that might not be the case on Saturday, and it wouldn't have anything to do with the weather. Instead thank the teams.

The shadows around South Africa and Sri Lanka are long and deep, and for reasons that are at once similar and not. Few will need reminding that the South Africans have an unhappy record at tournaments, and even fewer that the Lankans are in dismal form. Both are on the wrong side of history; one something like ancient, the other modern.

Temba Bavuma might have been speaking for Dasun Shanaka on Friday when he said: "It's probably impossible to block out the noise. That expectation, that pressure, will always be there. I took comfort at the captains' dinner [in Ahmedabad on Wednesday] when I heard the other captains speak about pressure, and hearing and understanding that the emotions and the effects are the same for all of us."

But other captains and their players won't have had to come to terms with losing five of six World Cup knockout games, which has been South Africa's fate since they made their debut in 1992. Nor with being dismissed for 50 in their most recent ODI, as the Lankans were by India in the Asia Cup final in Colombo last month.

Yet there are reasons to be cheerful, or so it would seem. The South Africans had slumped to two losses in a home ODI series against Australia last month - which followed a 3-0 hiding in the T20Is - when they reeled off three stirring wins to clinch the rubber. Before their blowout against India, Sri Lanka had won 14 of 15 ODIs.

Not so fast. Terms and conditions apply: Australia sent a starkly experimental squad to South Africa, and Sri Lanka's string of success involved beating the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Ireland, Zimbabwe and West Indies, none of which are at the World Cup. South Africa only just avoided having to navigate the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe in June and July. Sri Lanka had to go that route, a disconcerting truth for a team who were champions in 1996.

That was 27 years ago. The number will resonate with South Africans. It's how long Nelson Mandela spent in jail in his several more decades long fight against apartheid. Much that has damaged cricket and everything else has happened in both countries' real worlds in that time.

So the pressure Bavuma spoke of manifests in ways that go beyond the game. Win and the rampant corruption, tanking economy and rolling power blackouts will sit a little less uncomfortably in the soul. Lose and what's left of the nation's happiness will dwindle still further. As Chris Silverwood said on Friday: "All the players feel pride for their country, and when you're walking around in Colombo everyone wants to talk cricket. There is so much love for the game."

It isn't rational or fair. But it is what it is, and it will be on full view when South Africa take on Sri Lanka in the opening match of their men's World Cup campaign in Delhi on Saturday.

Teams:

South Africa

The batting is settled, what with Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen - who was described by Bavuma on Friday as "walking on water at the moment" - and David Miller to call on. The bowling less so. Two spinners? Temba Bavuma said on Friday that decision hadn't yet been taken, but Keshav Maharaj's place seems assured. There are, team management said, no niggles to report.

Tactics & strategy

South Africa have made a habit of trying to bounce out the Sri Lankans, and they have succeeded more often than not. Despite the conditions that seems to be the way they will go again.

Probable XI: Temba Bavuma (c), Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi

Sri Lanka

Maheesh Theekshana made his ODI debut in his only match in the format against South Africa, in Colombo in September 2021, and took 4/37. But he is unavailable because of a hamstring issue. So that means another opportunity for Dunith Wellalage, who has never played against South Africa, which seems a bigger advantage for him than the batters.

Tactics & strategy

Spin it to win it, although Theekshana's status won't help. In what looms as a battle of the bowlers, and with South Africa having probably the better batting line-up, the Lankans would do well to use their slow poison wisely. Kusal Perera is doubtful because of a shoulder injury.

Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Lahiru Kumara, Matheesha Pathirana

Thanks for the tag. Good luck both teams. 

Did you know?

- South Africa have lost just one of their six ODI World Cup matches against Sri Lanka, but none of those games were played in Asia.

- Of the players at the World Cup, only Shubman Gill has scored more runs in ODIs this year than Pathum Nissanka.

- South Africa have totalled 300 or more a dozen times in their 80 ODIs against the Lankans, including four times in Sri Lanka.

When: October 7, 2023 at 14:00 IST

Where: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

What to expect: A black soil pitch, according to Eric Simons. Which should mean runs, even though a decent mat of grass glinted greenly from the surface on Friday. Stand by for a hot, hazy, dry day.

What they said

"I've used it a couple of times but you don't really hear it within the team. There are guys who believe it applies to this team, there are guys who don't believe it applies to this team. I bring it up to make sure we're not skirting around the issue; that it's there and something we have to deal with." - Temba Bavuma on South Africa's relationship with the c-word, as in choke.

"Although we had a tough time in the Asia Cup final we played some very good cricket to get there. We got there despite people not thinking we could." - Chris Silverwood on imperfect memory.