The fourth match of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 will see South Africa take on Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday, October 7. Both teams will be looking to start their campaign with a win and gain some momentum in the tournament. Here is a detailed preview and prediction of the South Africa vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 match, covering the possible line-ups, venue details, pitch conditions, key players, and more.
Consider reading: ICC World Cup 2023 Matches Schedule
Where and How to Watch South Africa vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023
Here is a list of the official broadcasters and streaming platforms for the South Africa vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023:
| Country | Broadcaster | Streaming Platform |
|---|---|---|
| England | Sky Sports Cricket | Sky Go |
| New Zealand | Spark Sport | Spark Sport |
| Australia | Fox Cricket | Kayo Sports |
| India | Star Sports Network | Disney+ Hotstar |
| USA | Willow TV | Willow TV |
| Sri Lanka | Sony Six | SonyLIV |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports | PTV Sports |
| Bangladesh | Gazi TV | Rabbithole |
| South Africa | SuperSport | SuperSport |
| Netherlands | Ziggo Sport | Ziggo Sport |
Possible Line-ups for South Africa in the South Africa vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 Match
South Africa will be led by Temba Bavuma, who has been in excellent form with the bat this year. He has scored three centuries in 10 ODIs, averaging 79.62 and striking at 104.08. He will open the innings with Quinton de Kock, who is also a dangerous player at the top of the order.
The middle-order will feature Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen, who are all capable of scoring big runs and accelerating the innings. Klaasen has been particularly impressive, scoring 527 runs in 11 ODIs this year at an average of 58.55 and a strike rate of 151.43.
The bowling unit will be spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada, who is one of the best fast bowlers in the world. He has taken nine wickets in five ODIs this year at an economy rate of 5.63 and an average of 27.44. He will be supported by Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen, who are all pacey and skilful bowlers. The spin department will be handled by Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, who are both experienced and effective in this format.
The possible line-up for South Africa in the South Africa vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 Match is:
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Temba Bavuma © | Batsman |
| Quinton de Kock (wk) | Batsman |
| Heinrich Klaasen | Batsman |
| Aiden Markram | Batsman |
| David Miller | Batsman |
| Rassie van der Dussen | Batsman |
| Marco Jansen | All-rounder |
| Keshav Maharaj | Spinner |
| Kagiso Rabada | Fast bowler |
| Lungi Ngidi | Fast bowler |
| Gerald Coetzee | Fast bowler |
Possible Line-ups for Sri Lanka in the South Africa vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 Match
Sri Lanka will be captained by Dasun Shanaka, who will also play a key role as an all-rounder in the lower order. The batting line-up will consist of Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne and Sadeera Samarawickrama, who are all talented and aggressive batsmen. Mendis has been the standout performer for Sri Lanka this year, scoring 270 runs in six ODIs at an average of 45 and a strike rate of 97.12.
The bowling attack will be led by Matheesha Pathirana, who is a young and exciting fast bowler with a slingy action similar to Lasith Malinga. He was the leading wicket-taker in the Asia Cup 2023, with 11 scalps in four matches at an economy rate of 4.75 and an average of 15.36. He will be joined by Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka and Kasun Rajitha, who are all capable of generating pace and bounce. The spinners will be Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage, who are both mystery spinners with variations and control.
The possible line-up for Sri Lanka in the South Africa vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 Match is:
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Kusal Mendis (vc) | Batsman |
| Kusal Perera | Batsman |
| Pathum Nissanka | Batsman |
| Dimuth Karunaratne | Batsman |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | Batsman |
| Charith Asalanka | All-rounder |
| Dasun Shanaka © | All-rounder |
| Dunith Wellalage | Spinner |
| Maheesh Theekshana | Spinner |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Fast bowler |
| Lahiru Kumara | Fast bowler |
Venue Details and Pitch Condition for South Africa vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 Match
The Arun Jaitley Stadium, formerly known as Feroz Shah Kotla, is located in Delhi and has a seating capacity of 48,000. It is one of the oldest cricket grounds in India and has hosted six ODI World Cup matches so far.
The pitch at this venue is usually slow and low, favoring the spinners and making run-scoring difficult. The average first-innings score in ODIs at this ground is 230, while the average second-innings score is 216. The highest total at this venue is 330/8 by the West Indies against the Netherlands in 2011, while the lowest total is 99 by South Africa against India in 2022.
The weather forecast for Saturday is sunny and warm, with a maximum temperature of 34°C and a minimum of 21°C. There is no chance of rain and the humidity will be around 40%.
Details about the Winning Team in Arun Jaitley Stadium in Last 5 International ODI Matches
The last five international ODI matches played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium are as follows:
| Date | Teams | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2022 | India vs South Africa | India | 7 wickets |
| Mar 13, 2019 | India vs Australia | Australia | 35 runs |
| Oct 29, 2017 | India vs New Zealand | India | 6 runs |
| Oct 22, 2016 | India vs New Zealand | New Zealand | 6 runs |
| Dec 11, 2011 | India vs West Indies | India | 8 wickets |
As we can see from the table, India has won three out of the last five matches at this venue, while Australia and New Zealand have won one each. The team batting second has won four out of the last five matches, while the team batting first has won only one.
What Should the Team Do After Winning Toss in the South Africa vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 Match
Based on the pitch condition and the recent results at this venue, the team that wins the toss should opt to bowl first and chase down the target. The pitch is likely to get slower and lower as the match progresses, making batting difficult in the second innings. Moreover, the dew factor might come into play in the evening, making it harder for the spinners to grip the ball.
Key Players to Watch Out from South Africa
- Temba Bavuma: The captain and opener of South Africa is in sublime form with the bat and will look to give his team a solid start. He has scored three centuries in his last six ODIs and has a career average of 56.65.
- Heinrich Klaasen: The middle-order batsman is a power-hitter who can change the course of the game with his explosive batting. He has scored two centuries and a fifty in his last six ODIs and has a career strike rate of 109.64.
- Kagiso Rabada: The fast bowler is the leader of the South African bowling attack and can trouble any batsman with his pace, bounce and accuracy. He has taken nine wickets in his last five ODIs and has a career economy rate of 5.09.
Key Players to Watch Out for in Sri Lanka
- Kusal Mendis: The vice captain and top-order batsman is the backbone of the Sri Lankan batting line-up and can play both attacking and anchoring roles. He has scored four fifties in his last six ODIs and has a career strike rate of 86.84.
- Maheesh Theekshana: The mystery spinner is a wicket-taking option for Sri Lanka in the middle overs and can also contribute with the bat. He has taken 31 wickets in his last 15 ODIs and has a career economy rate of 4.50.
- Matheesha Pathirana: The young fast bowler is a sensation with his slingy action and variations. He has taken 11 wickets in his last four ODIs and has a career economy rate of 4.75.
Consider reading: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan World Cup 2023
Prediction for Winner of South Africa vs Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 Match
Based on the current form, squad strength, pitch condition, and venue history, South Africa are the favorites to win this match against Sri Lanka. South Africa has a more balanced and experienced side than Sri Lanka, who are missing their star spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga due to injury. South Africa also have a better record against Sri Lanka in ODIs, winning 45 out of their 80 encounters.
However, Sri Lanka cannot be taken lightly as they have some talented and aggressive players who can surprise any team on their day. Sri Lanka also have an edge over South Africa in World Cup matches, winning four out of their six meetings.
Therefore, it will be an interesting contest between two teams that are looking to make an impact in the tournament. My prediction for the winner of this match is South Africa.
