Revitalised Sri Lanka seek encore in ODIs after Test triumph

South Africa v Sri Lanka
1st ODI
Wanderers, Johannesburg
Sunday, 3 March; 10.00am local, 08.00am GMT

Fact: The last time Sri Lanka played an ODI series in South Africa, they were swept 5-0. Also fact: Sri Lanka hadn’t won a Test in South Africa in over seven years before this tour. Just until a couple of weeks ago, there was little doubt about who the favourites were. Now, the joke is on those writing Sri Lanka off.

There’s little doubt that this tour will be remembered for ages, irrespective of how the limited-overs leg pans out. But in a World Cup year, the ODIs now assume just as much significance. Can the events of the Test series spur Sri Lanka on and inspire something special at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019? That will be the larger picture around which the five-match series takes place.

Every move that Sri Lanka make going forward will be seen differently. South Africa will be wary of the two Pereras – Thisara and Kusal – who are now their most important cogs. Thisara has been in outrageous limited-overs form recently. In his last two ODIs, he has 220 runs from 137 balls, including a breathtaking innings of 140 off 74 balls that nearly turned the tables on New Zealand in a chase of 320 in Mount Maunganui.

Kusal, meanwhile, has always been a heavy striker, as testified by a career strike-rate of 91.28, and was one of the heroes of the Test series triumph.

Thisara Perera has become Sri Lanka’s MVP in ODIs

If the Pereras offer destructive potential, Upul Tharanga offers experience, Kusal Mendis offers big-match temperament, and Akila Dananjaya offers raw talent. Sri Lanka’s biggest concern is with their captain Lasith Malinga, who is a diminishing force, but even he brings experience and knowledge like no one else.

South Africa are bullish at home, and have lost just one series there in the last five years. Their fast-bowling attack breathes fire, with Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi. They have two options to partner Quinton de Kock at the top in Rassie van der Dussen, who was the Mzansi Super League’s highest scorer, and Reeza Hendricks, who was handed a CSA national contract for 2019-20 on Friday, 1 March.

Tabraiz Shamsi and Imran Tahir offer the ideal mix of guile and experience, but South Africa’s middle order runs thin, with Faf du Plessis and David Miller the only ones with substantial experience.

For now, South Africa are slight favourites. But Sri Lanka took everyone by surprise in the Tests, and if they can compete just as well, it should make for a cracking series.

Key players

Quinton de Kock (South Africa): The South African wicket-keeper batsman is a more potent force at home. His average in home ODIs is 57.33 as opposed to a career average of 44.26, while his strike-rate of 103.55 is also significantly higher than his career strike-rate of 94.80. In the absence of much firepower in the middle order, a strong start from de Kock would especially go a long way in determining the course of the South African innings.

South Africa will rely heavily on Quinton de Kock’s attacking brand of batsmanship

Thisara Perera (Sri Lanka): Not long after his exploits in the New Zealand series, Perera was slamming 30 runs in an over in the 2018-19 Bangladesh Premier League. Perera has been simply unstoppable in recent times, and the pace offered by South Africa’s bowlers could work to his favour. However, he isn’t very comfortable against the short ball.

Conditions

Teams haven’t been able to compete much at the Wanderers lately. The margin of victory in the last four matches at this venue have been: By eight wickets with 111 balls to spare, by five wickets with 15 balls to spare via the D/L method, by seven wickets with 108 balls to spare, and by 142 runs. How will Sunday pan out? There are thunderstorms forecast on match eve, but none on match day.

Squads

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Willem Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Rassie van der Dussen

Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (c), Akila Dananjaya, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Oshada Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Angelo Perera, Kusal Perera, Priyamal Perera, Thisara Perera, Kasun Rajitha, Lakshan Sandakan, Upul Tharanga, Isuru Udana