T20 WC 2024: SL out to ace SA challenge
Sri Lanka and South Africa will meet in their respective tournament opener (Match 4) of the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup. Both teams would want to get off to a winning start. SA are certainly the better side in terms of on-paper strength and overall team balance. However, the Lankans can also spring in a few surprises. Here is the match preview.
Pitch report and other details
The newly-constructed Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York will host this Group D duel on June 3 (8:00pm IST). As the venue hasn't hosted any games yet, the nature of the track is difficult to determine. Notably, drop-in tracks from Australia have been installed here. One can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network and stream it on Disney+Hotstar.
Here's the head-to-head record
The two sides have met on 17 occasions in T20Is. The Proteas have bossed the show in terms of wins (12). Sri Lanka have five matches in their favor. The two teams have met four times in ICC T20 World Cups. SA have the edge with a 3-1 lead. They won in the 2012, 2016, and 2021 editions. SL won in 2014.
Can SL ace the SA challenge?
SA score over the Lankans in terms of firepower in the batting department. Hence, the likes of Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, and Kusal Mendis would be required to show intent. In Wanindu Hasaranga, SL have one of the finest spinners going around. Meanwhile, the Proteas side will be powered by Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, David Miller, and Heinrich Klaasen.
Here are the probable XIs
SL (Probable XI): Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana. SA (Probable XI): Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi.
A look at the star performers
Heinrich Klaasen compiled 479 runs while striking at 171.07 in IPL 2024 Anrich Nortje owns 20 wickets in 10 T20 WC games (ER: 5.37). Hasaranga was the highest wicket-taker of the past two T20 WC editions (16 in 2021 and 15 in 2022). Angelo Mathews (459 at 38.25) and Pathum Nissanka (435 at 29) have been SL's star batters at the event.
