South Africa vs. Sri Lanka: ICC World Cup Match 35 Preview

South Africa vs. Sri Lanka: ICC World Cup Match 35 Preview

South Africa and Sri Lanka will face off in the match match 35 during the 2019 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup in Chester-le-Street on Friday. Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street will be used as the venue for the contest, which will be hosting its 17th ODI on Friday. Highest team total of 314-4 in a 50-over contest was registered by England in the match against Australia in 2018, whereas lowest team total 99 was also registered by the home side in the match against Sri Lanka in 2014. Average 1st innings total at the ground is 243. Highest individual score of 126 not out was registered by Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene in 2006, whereas best bowling figures of 5-28 in a 50-over contest was registered by England's Graeme Swann in 2009.

For the Proteas, the game is all about playing for pride as they are already knocked out of the competition after managing to win just one out of seven games played and are placed ninth on the table with just three points. In the batting department, the team will be relying on the likes of wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock, veteran opener Hashim Amla, young Rassie van der Dussen and captain Faf du Plessis to score bulk of the runs, whereas on the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi and Imran Tahir to provide timely breakthroughs.

On the other hand, for Sri Lanka, the game is

South Africa and Sri Lanka will face off in the match match 35 during the 2019 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup in Chester-le-Street on Friday. Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street will be used as the venue for the contest, which will be hosting its 17th ODI on Friday. Highest team total of 314-4 in a 50-over contest was registered by England in the match against Australia in 2018, whereas lowest team total 99 was also registered by the home side in the match against Sri Lanka in 2014. Average 1st innings total at the ground is 243. Highest individual score of 126 not out was registered by Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene in 2006, whereas best bowling figures of 5-28 in a 50-over contest was registered by England's Graeme Swann in 2009.

For the Proteas, the game is all about playing for pride as they are already knocked out of the competition after managing to win just one out of seven games played and are placed ninth on the table with just three points. In the batting department, the team will be relying on the likes of wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock, veteran opener Hashim Amla, young Rassie van der Dussen and captain Faf du Plessis to score bulk of the runs, whereas on the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi and Imran Tahir to provide timely breakthroughs.

On the other hand, for Sri Lanka, the game is another do-or-die encounter as they need to win to stay alive in the competition, with six points from six matches. In the batting department, the team will be relying on the likes of captain Dimuth Karunaratne, wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera and veteran Angelo Mathews to score bulk of the runs, whereas on the bowling front, the onus will be on the likes of pacers Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana and Thisara Perera to produce timely breakthroughs.

Player Recommendations:

Batsman: Rassie van der Dussen (9 Cr)

Rassie van der Dussen is being termed by many as the future of South Africa's batting and the 30-year-old is surely living up to the expectations. The right-hander is the second highest run-getter for the Proteas in the competition with 216 but has the best average of 54 and with a strike-rate of 87.44, which included two half-centuries.

Wicketkeeper: Kusal Perera (9 Cr)

Kusal Perera is an extremely important member for Sri Lanka in white-ball cricket, largely because of his aggressive batting. The left-hander is having a decent tournament with the bat in hand as he has already scored 161 runs in four innings at an average of 40.25, which included two half-centuries.

All-rounder: Andile Phehlukwayo (9 Cr)

Andile Phehlukwayo is turning into a more than decent all-rounder in white-ball cricket. The 23-year-old is having an excellent tournament where he has scored 129 runs at an average of 32.25 and also has eight wickets to his name in seven matches.

Bowler: Lasith Malinga (9.5 Cr)

Lasith Malinga is the most experienced bowler in Sri Lanka squad and the 35-year-old is making the most of his final appearance in a major 50-over tournament. Malinga is currently the leading wicket-taker for the Islanders with eight scalps in just four matches at an impressive strike-rate of 23.7 and with an economy-rate of 5.96.

Predicted Playing XI:

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis (captain), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Kusal Perera (wicketkeeper), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Jeevan Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Azeem Siddiqui
Passionate sports follower in the field of sports journalism for more than five years. Loves writing about cricket, football, and tennis.
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