SL vs. SA 1st T20 to get underway this evening

After sweeping Sri Lanka 5-0 in the one-day internationals, South Africa will hope to put the finishing touches to their ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 preparations in the upcoming Twenty20 International series, starting in Cape Town tonight.

Sri Lanka has been poor in the ODIs that their captain, Lasith Malinga, has openly voiced his annoyance after Sri Lanka failed to cross 250 in any of the five matches and was bundled out for sub-200 scores in three of them.

Sri Lanka's highest scorer in the series, Kusal Mendis, was 70 runs behind du Plessis, and their second-highest scorer, Oshada Fernando, averaged only 25.40.

Sri Lanka will hope some of the changes to their squad leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay has returned after nearly three years, along with Suranga Lakmal.

With impressive performances in the ODIs, Aiden Markram and Anrich Nortje have earned their maiden call-ups to the T20I squad.

Sinethemba Qeshile, the 20-year-old uncapped batsman, is another new entrant to the T20I squad.

All of Dale Steyn, Quinton de Kock, captain Faf du Plessis, and Kagiso Rabada will be rested after the first T20I, opening up opportunities for the likes of Qeshile, and Lutho Sipamala and Dwaine Pretorius.

Lungi Ngidi, who was named in the squad, will not be available for any of the three games after having picked up a niggle.

Imran Tahir is another player who will be rested after the first match, leaving Tabraiz Shamsi as the only specialist spinner in the squad for the last two matches.

Today’s encounter will commence at 9:30pm local time.