South Africa V Sri Lanka World T20 Preview - Match 32
Sri Lanka’s first decision is an easy one. Angelo Matthews, who injured his right hamstring in the course of his heroic unbeaten 54-ball 73 against England, will sit the game out. This means that Shehan Jayasuriya, the left-hand batsman, should get another opportunity at the highest level. Jayasuriya was in the playing eleven for Sri Lanka’s match against Afghanistan, but did not bat. In all, he has played ten T20 Internationals, and is yet to make a half-century.
The other doubt for Sri Lanka was Dushmantha Chameera, who had to take quick evasive action when Jos Buttler drilled a hard return catch at him. The ball went off hand and chest, and although Chameera bravely continued bowling, the management would not want to risk aggravating the injury.
South Africa is in a similar boat, having contrived to both fail to defend big totals and to chase modest ones. Hashim Amla conceded that it was possible for teams coming into a big tournament such the ICC World Twenty20 2016 in slightly different conditions and make some mistakes. “The biggest thing we have tried to do as a team, and sometimes got it wrong, is try and assess conditions as soon as possible. You then have to try and play accordingly,” said Amla. “In the last game in particular, because the wicket was very slow and difficult to bat, a score like 135 was probably a winning total. We probably aimed for too many and then ended up short of that.”
Jeffrey Vandersay, the Sri Lankan leg-spinner trying to make a name for himself at the highest level, certainly did not look at the South Africa match as one with nothing at stake. Given that Sri Lanka is a side in transition, every young player has a chance to stake a claim, and this excitement reflected in Vandersay’s words. “Though we are out of the competition, we will fight hard,” he said. “That's the Sri Lankan spirit. We will not take things lightly and we will play to win.”
If both teams can come out and do that on Monday, and at lease provide a spectacle, they would give their respective fans some much needed consolation after disappointing World T20 campaigns.
Teams (from)
Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Sachithra Senanayake, Dinesh Chandimal (capt, wk), Milinda Siriwardana, Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka, Jeffrey Vandersay, Suranga Lakmal, Angelo Mathews.
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Chris Morris, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, David Wiese.
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