-
Sri Lanka spin key
-
-
Pitch could be a leveller
South Africa v Sri Lanka
Saturday 7 October, 09:30
TV: Live on Sky Sports
South Africa v Sri Lanka World Cup team news
South Africa are all about brawn rather than brain. They are reliant on their top six with the bat to protect a bowling group which has the worst economy rate of the ten teams in the last two years.
Temba Bavuma, the skipper, should be available after missing the warm-ups for personal reasons. South Africa could pick two spinners if they think it will turn.
Possible XI: De Kock, Bavuma, van der Dussen, Markram, Klaasen, Miller, Jansen, Phelukwayo/Coetzee, Rabada, Maharaj, Shamsi
Sri Lanka were dealt a hammer blow with the loss of Wanindu Hasaranga. But they still have a clutch of gamechangers, notably Maheesh Theekshana, the spinner, and Matheesha Pathirana, the pacer who could be lethal at the death.
Possible XI: Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Samarawickarama, Asalanka, Dhananjaya, Shanaka, Wellalage, Theekshana, Madushanka, Pathirana
South Africa v Sri Lanka World Cup pitch report
There have been five ODI in the last ten years at Delhi. But one of those was as recent as 2022 with South Africa rolled for 99 against India. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav took four wickets with seven of the possible team listed above playing. We suspect there will be spin again. In IPL this year there was free scoring. The innings runs market has a watching brief.
South Africa v Sri Lanka World Cup match odds
South Africa are 1.511/2 with Sri Lanka 2.9215/8. That's a big old gulf between the two, perhaps made bigger by defeats for Sri Lanka against Afghanistan and Bangladesh in the warm-ups.
If it is a tacky surface, though, Sri Lanka should be bang in the game and we can see them trading at a choice affair. This is a major test of South African credentials and mindset in this tournament. A nervy performance would not be a surprise.
South Africa v Sri Lanka World Cup player bets
South Africa's Heinrich Klaasen wins 22% of the time on top bat in the last two years so we're delighted to take Sportsbook's 5/16.00, which is implied probability of 16.7%. Klaasen is the best white-ball hitter in the world at the moment and can play catch up from No 5.