South Africa vs Sri Lanka Prediction: South Africa came back emphatically in the series against Australia while Sri Lanka earned a qualifying spot in playoffs

South Africa and Sri Lanka are going head to head in the 4th game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Central Delhi, India on 7th October. South Africa came back emphatically in the series against Australia while Sri Lanka earned a qualifying spot in playoffs. Who will win this game?

South Africa felt the absence of captain Temba Bavuma during the warm-up matches, but he has since returned to India after a brief stint away. Bavuma has been the leading run-scorer for the Proteas in ODI cricket in 2023, amassing an impressive total of 637 runs from 10 innings at an average of 79.62, which sets a promising tone heading into this significant tournament.

However, Bavuma won't be able to carry the team alone, and support from other key players is crucial. Opener Quinton de Kock is currently in excellent form, as demonstrated by his recent unbeaten 84 in a warm-up game against New Zealand. His last five ODI innings have produced scores of 27, 45, 82, 45, and 11.

On the bowling front, South Africa will miss the services of Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala for this match and the entire tournament due to injuries. The replacements, Andile Phehlukwayo and Lizaad Williams, face a challenging task in filling the void left by these first-choice seamers.

All-rounder Marco Jansen has been the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in ODI competition this year, with an impressive tally of 16 wickets in 11 matches. Spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has also been in prolific form, averaging nearly two wickets per ODI in 2023, with a total of 13 wickets in seven matches, marking a significant contribution to the team's bowling attack.

Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee, Tabraiz Shamsi

South Africa secured a direct entry into the World Cup, whereas Sri Lanka had to go through the qualifying tournament to earn their spot. The Proteas are coming off a successful ODI series win against Australia, while the Sri Lankans reached the final of the 2023 Asia Cup last month. Both teams will aim to carry their recent momentum into this match.

Sri Lanka will be boosted by the return of spinner Maheesh Theekshana, who missed the Asia Cup final due to injury but has since made a full recovery. Theekshana has been the third-highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket in 2023, claiming 31 wickets in 15 matches at an average of over two wickets per game.

However, Sri Lanka will feel the absence of fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera and leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, which are significant setbacks for their bowling department. Hasaranga, in particular, has established himself as one of the premier all-rounders in domestic and T20I cricket but will miss this ODI tournament due to injury.

In terms of batting, Sri Lanka can rely on opener Pathum Nissanka and wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Mendis to make substantial contributions. Mendis showcased his batting prowess with a brilliant 158 in a warm-up match against Afghanistan. Nissanka, on the other hand, has been Sri Lanka's leading run-scorer in ODIs this year, amassing 819 runs in 20 innings at an impressive average of 45.50.

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Lahiru Kumara, Matheesha Pathirana

This match is scheduled to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, also known as the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, in Delhi. In the last five ODIs held at this venue, the team batting first emerged victorious in four of them. Therefore, it's likely that the captain winning the toss will opt to bat first.

The pitch at this stadium is expected to wear down faster compared to other grounds in India, making it progressively challenging for batsmen. This is another reason why the toss-winning captain might choose to field first. This match marks the beginning of five World Cup round-robin matches in Delhi, and given the fresh pitch and favorable outfield conditions, a first-innings total of around 280 could be deemed competitive.

Sri Lanka hasn't played an ODI in Delhi since 2009, while South Africa faced India at this venue last year. Historical data shows that this ground has witnessed relatively modest first-innings totals, with very few surpassing the 300-run mark, suggesting that we may witness a lower-scoring game.

Sri Lanka has never scored more than 277 runs at this ground, a record set over 40 years ago. Similarly, South Africa's highest ODI total here is 223. It's worth noting that South Africa has never won a Cricket World Cup, while Sri Lanka clinched their first and only title in 1996. Both teams are eager to start their 2023 campaign with a victory, but South Africa appears to be in a stronger position.

South Africa's recent ODI series victory over Australia demonstrated their potential, as they managed to come from two-nil down to win the series three-two. On the other hand, Sri Lanka's performance during the World Cup warm-up matches did not inspire confidence. Therefore, we expect South Africa to emerge victorious in this game.