SL vs SA Match Prediction: Who will win Today World Cup Match | Sri Lanka vs South Africa | Cricket World Cup 2019

SL vs SA Match Prediction: The Sportsrush present before you Match Prediction of 2019 World Cup Match 35 between SL and SA.

As we scrimmage through the final couple of weeks in the league stage matches, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 has finally reached its pinnacle. We have four teams chasing the final elusive top 4 spot, an equation which is bound to serve on our plate some real crackers in the next 10 days.

And in the pursuit of a semi-final berth are Sri Lanka as well, a side responsible for opening the tournament up after they pummeled England in their previous match. Given a chance by few, the way Sri Lanka showed determination and the never-ending fighting spirit to script an incredible comeback was fascinating to see.

It’s this which holds them in good stead against a South African side who have endured one of their most horrendous campaigns at the quadrennial tournament till date, sitting in ninth place after the seven matches.

Sri Lanka vs South Africa – What numbers suggest?

The two teams have contested a total of 76 matches in the ODI circuit till date with South Africa winning 41 of them. Sri Lanka have the 34 wins for themselves while we have seen the one match apiece ending in a draw and not giving us a result.

The most recent was a five-match ODI series played earlier this year with South Africa making light work of Sri Lanka to win 5-0.

At the World Cup, the two have rummaged it out 4 times with South Africa winning 75% of the matches to win 3-1. The two have met once in England as well in the World Cup with the African country coming out with a win.

Sri Lanka vs South Africa – Key Battles

Avishka Fernando vs Imran Tahir

In a bowling unit where even Kagiso Rabada has been battered and rattled, only spinner Imran Tahir has been able to provide some kind of solitude to his side. He’s kept bowling a restrictive line and length, getting the ball to grip and skid off the surface and cramp batsmen up for room.

And he’s going to be at the forefront of his side’s bowling attack once again with his battle against newly indicted Avishka Fernando one to look out for. Brought into bolster his team’s top-order, Fernando made a well crafted 49 against England at No. 3.

Tahir’s main delivery is getting the ball to pitch in the right areas and deviate ominously from batsmen and against Fernando he needs to do the same thing. He was impressive in the recent ODI series against SA, picking up 9 wickets in 4 matches and with the side tepid in facing up against him, Tahir will know he holds an upper hand here.

Dhananjaya de Silva vs Faf du Plessis

South Africa have always been pummeled against spin, failing to read and show the required application against the turning ball and expect Sri Lanka to dole out Dhananjaya de Silva quite early on against them today.

There are a total of three batsmen who have showed the needed fortitude and willingness to grind it out in the middle and one of them includes Faf du Plessis. With 1,070 runs in 25 innings against Sri Lanka, this is a side Faf usually likes playing against and in a bid to get him out Sri Lanka will expose him to the turning ball in the form of Dhananjaya.

Although the off-spinner has managed to send him packing just once in 10 outings, the fact the Faf has a limited foot movement sees him find it difficult to get under the ball which spins and bounce, something Sri Lanka will look to pepper him it.

Sri Lanka vs South Africa – Match Prediction

What began as a torrid time for Sri Lanka at the World Cup has taken no time in turning around. They are in with a huge shout of making the top 4 now with another four points seeing them stake a real claim for the spot.

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Looking to begin their winning sojourn tomorrow, the side will be eyeing a win against a lacklustre South African unit who’ve massively fallen apart. What has been especially difficult to stomach is the lack of fight from the side with their experienced campaigners in particular refusing to take the onus of the responsibility on their shoulders.

However, it can’t be forgotten that if South Africa function to the best of their abilities, they can get the better of any side on the side, such is the skill set imbued in their side. This promises to be an edge of the seat thriller, one we eventually see Sri Lanka winning owing to the better well-rounded bowling performances and the paper thin quality of SA’s batting unit.