South Africa v Sri Lanka match preview

South Africa head into the World Cup with another strong team on paper, as they always seem to do. How far they are able to go this time, remains to be seen. On what is set to be a typically low and slow Delhi surface, their middle order of Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller, all of whom are good players of spin, will be in focus, as will be their spinners Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj.

Sri Lanka have been going through a topsy-turvy time. They won the World Cup Qualifier fair and square without dropping a game, but then lost the Asia Cup final by a record margin. There were calls to drop their captain Dasun Shanaka. Wanindu Hasaranga has not made it to the squad, and Maheesh Theekshana won’t be available for the first game either, making it advantage South Africa to start with.

SA vs SL fantasy tips

# Heinrich Klaasen has been in unbelievable form this year. He has an average of 58.6, and a strike rate of 151.4. He should be the first name in your team.

# With the Delhi pitch expected to be slow and low, Aiden Markram and David Miller, both of whom are good players of spin, can be backed. Markram also gives the bowling option and can gives points from there as well.

# Temba Bavuma has been in tremendous form in ODIs this year, but most of his runs have come in South Africa. This will be a different challenge altogether. It wouldn’t be the worst idea to not pick him.

# Matheesha Pathirana has not played a single match against South Africa. His slingy action will prove difficult for the South African batters to pick. He should be in your team.

# Dunith Welllalage and Marco Jansen have been the premier all-rounders for the respective teams in the last month or so. Both should be in your XI.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka predicted XIs

South Africa: Max O’Dowd, Vikramjit Singh, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards (c) (wk), Roelof van der Merwe, Logan Van Beek, Ryan Klein, Shariz Ahmed, Paul van Meerken.

Sri Lanka: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zama, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf.

SA vs SL Dream11 team

Wicketkeepers: Kusal Mendis, Heinrich Klaasen.

Batters: David Miller, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka.

All-rounders: Aiden Markram, Dunith Wellalage, Marco Jansen.

Bowlers: Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Matheesha Pathirana.

Captaincy options: Heinrich Klaasen, Kusal Mendis, Aiden Markram.

Potential swaps: Quinton de Kock for Kusal Mendis, Kagiso Rabada for Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi for Keshav Maharaj.