Match: Sri Lanka vs South Africa, Cricket World Cup 2023 (SL vs SA)
Date: October 7, Saturday, 2.00 PM IST
Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala
The fourth match of the Cricket World Cup 2023 will be played between Sri Lanka and South Africa on October 7 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Sri Lanka qualified for the event after winning the Qualifiers in Zimbabwe earlier this year. More recently, they made it to the final of the Asia Cup, in which they were bowled out for just 50 runs by India. Heading into the World Cup, Sri Lanka lost both their warm-up matches, against Bangladesh and Afghanistan, respectively. Their batsmen have been very inconsistent, and to make matters worse, the Sri Lankan squad’s bowling unit has been depleted due to injuries. Two of their main guys – Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera – are not a part of the World Cup due to injury.
Like Sri Lanka, South Africa will also be missing two of their bowlers – Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala, due to injury. However, their batting line-up looks good for big totals. They have the fearsome Quinton de Kock at the top, the likes of in-form Heinrich Klassen, Aiden Markram and David Miller in the middle, and Marco Jansen down the order. However, on a slow Delhi surface, South African batsman can be given a tough competition by the Sri Lankal spinners.
Ahead of the fourth game of Cricket World Cup 2023, here’s everything you need to know to maximise your chances of winning cash prizes on MPL fantasy.
Sri Lanka team news and predicted XI
Team news: Sri Lanka will be without Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga for the entire tournament. Both of them are injured. Maheesh Theekshana is also unavailable for the first game as he is still recovering from a hamstring injury. This means we are likely to see Dhananjaya de Silva and Dimuth Wellalage in the starting XI from the first game itself. Meanwhile, Kusal Perera and Dasun Shanaka are fit for this game after missing Sri Lanka’s last warm-up.
Squad: Dasun Shanaka (captain), Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka
Predicted XI: 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Dushan Hemantha, 10 Dilshan Madushanka, 11 Lahiru Kumara
South Africa team news and predicted XI
Team news: Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala will not be playing the entire tournament due to injury.
Squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams.
Predicted XI: 1 Temba Bavuma (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Gerald Coetzee, 9 Andile Phelukwayo/Tabraiz Shamsi, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Kagiso Rabada
Head-to-head record
In the 50-over format, the two sides have played against each other in a total of 80 matches, from which South Africa have 45 wins. Sri Lanka have won 33 times. At the World Cup in particular, the two teams have played six matches, four of which were won by the Proteas.
Five players to watch out for
Here we list five players you must pick in your MPL fantasy XI for SL vs SA, Cricket World Cup 2023
Kusal Mendis – batsman, Sri Lanka
In the current Sri Lankan squad, Kusal Mendis is the top run-scorer in ODIs, with 3.215 runs at an average of 32.15. His recent form has also been good. Mendis slammed a knock of 158 runs in the warm-up match against Afghanistan, before which he scored 91 against Pakistan, 50 against Bangladesh and 92 against Afghanistan at the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka’s batting line-up looks quite unimpressive, and Mendis will be their main batsman in the tournament.
Dhananjaya de Silva – bowler, Sri Lanka
With Maheesh Theekshana, who was Sri Lanka’s best bowler at the Asia Cup, and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, who was ruled out of the entire tournament, unavailable for this match, the two frontline spinners will be Dhananjaya de Silva and Dunith Wellalage. Wellalage is also the top wicket-taker in the current Sri Lankan squad – he has taken 44 wickets at an average of 39.38.
Quinton de Kock – wicketkeeper batsman, South Africa
One of the best opening batsmen at the 2023 World Cup, de Kock has been in fine form lately. He scored an unbeaten 84 against New Zealand in the warm-ups, before which he scored 186 runs in four ODIs against Australia last month. De Kock has a batting average of over 44 in 145 ODIs, and will be one of South Africa’s key players in the tournament.
Heinrich Klaasen– batsman, South Africa
Keeping in mind the brilliant form that Heinrich Klaasen is in, he is a good option for your MPL team’s captaincy for this match. In 11 ODIs this year, he has scored 527 runs in nine innings at an average of 58.55 and a strike rate of over 151. This includes two centuries and a fifty, and a top score of 174. He’s also done exceptionally well in franchise cricket this year, having scored 363 runs in nine innings at an average of 60.50 and a strike rate of above 164 at the SA20, 235 runs at an average of 58.75 and a strike rate of over 197 at MLC, 448 runs in 12 matches at an average of 49.77 and a strike rate of 177.07 at the IPL and 189 runs in seven matches at an average of 31.50 at Men’s Hundred.
David Miller – batsman, South Africa
In the middle-order, South Africa have David Miller, who has historically performed well against Sri Lanka, having scored 477 runs. At the World Cup, he has scored 460 runs at an average of 51.11.
MPL XI
SL vs SA – where and what time to watch the match live in India
The Sri Lanka vs South Africa ODI will be televised on the Star Sports Network in India. You can also watch the game on the Disney + Hotstar app as well as the Jiocinema app. The match will begin at 2.00 PM IST on October 7.
Check out our detailed guide on fantasy cricket for more tips and tricks. https://www.mpl.live/blog/todays-match-prediction/
Note: The players recommended here need not be a part of the Playing 11 on game day. Users are advised to do their own research also and follow official sources and create their teams.
