ICC World Cup 2023: South Africa and Sri Lanka will begin their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign with a crucial encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday. Both teams have had mixed fortunes in the recent past and will be eager to start the mega event on a positive note.
South Africa, who have never won the World Cup, are coming off a 3-2 series win over Australia at home. The Proteas have a balanced squad with experienced players like Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada and Tabraiz Shamsi. They also have some exciting young talents like Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee.
| Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 4th match of ICC World Cup 2023 |
| Date and time | Saturday, October 7, 2023, 1:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Pitch report | Good for batting, spin-friendly in the later stages |
| Weather forecast | Clear and sunny, no rain, 33°C, 45% humidity |
| Prediction | South Africa have the edge over Sri Lanka in terms of form and firepower |
| Fantasy team | Quinton de Kock ©, Kusal Perera, Rassie van der Dussen (vc), David Miller, Charith Asalanka, Marco Jansen, Dunith Wellalage, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara |
Sri Lanka, who lifted the trophy in 1996, are looking to bounce back from a humiliating defeat to India in the Asia Cup 2023 final. The island nation has been struggling with inconsistency and injuries in recent times. However, they have some quality players like Kusal Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dunith Wellalage. They also have a potent spin attack led by Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana.
Pitch report and weather forecast
The pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium is expected to be good for batting, with the ball coming on nicely to the bat. However, the track might also assist the spinners as the game progresses. The average first-innings score at this venue is 223. The highest team total here is 330/8 by West Indies against Netherlands in the 2011 World Cup.
The weather forecast for Delhi on Saturday is clear and sunny, with no chances of rain. The temperature is likely to hover around 33 degrees Celsius during the match. The humidity levels are expected to be around 45%, making for ideal playing conditions.
Prediction and fantasy team
South Africa are slightly ahead of Sri Lanka in terms of form and firepower. The Proteas have won four of their six World Cup matches against Sri Lanka, with one tie and one loss. They also have more familiarity with the Indian conditions, thanks to their IPL exposure. However, Sri Lanka cannot be taken lightly, as they have shown glimpses of brilliance in the subcontinent. They also have a strong spin department, which could trouble the South African batsmen.
Here is a possible fantasy team for the match:
Wicketkeepers: Quinton de Kock ©, Kusal Perera
Batsmen: Rassie van der Dussen (vc), David Miller, Charith Asalanka
All-rounders: Marco Jansen, Dunith Wellalage
Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara
Team composition: SA 6:5 SL
Credits left: 14.5
