After a really good ODI series over the last week, Sri Lanka and South Africa finally turn their attention to the 20 over format on Friday when they meet in the first of three T20 internationals out in Colombo.
This is a series in its own right but I think nobody is under any illusions that these matches are all about building for the World T20 which begins next month. They have both named their squad for that tournament so now it is all about impressing and forcing their way into the starting XI.
Sri Lanka
There is nothing that boosts confidence more than winning so the fact that Sri Lanka won that ODI series will give them a lot of belief to take into this match. They will have needed it though because this is the format they have really struggled in over the course of recent times. Their struggles have been so pronounced that they will begin their World T20 campaign in the play-offs rather than the main draw so they are going to be under pressure from the get go in that.
That makes it imperative that they build some more confidence over the course of this series. They have conditions that suit them with their spinners likely to be even more a feature in these matches with batsmen having to attack them. These are similar to the conditions they will face in the UAE so if they can build up a head of steam it would do them the world of good. As ever with Sri Lanka, their fortunes often depend on how well they go with the bat.
South Africa
You could almost be forgiven for failing to notice that South Africa are actually on a decent little run in this format of the game. They went to the Caribbean and knocked off the reigning T20 champions West Indies in a good series and then went to Ireland and won a lesser intensity series. They now look to win a third straight series in what I guess you would call alien conditions to them even though they have a decent record overseas.
You have to give a lot of credit to South Africa for those recent results because the lack of balance in their side is clear for all to see. They always seem to be a batsman light and with the likes of Quinton de Kock not on this tour that is only likely to be highlighted further. The positive to that though is that they are not short of bowling options so if someone does start going around the park they have cover for it. It isn’t the way most teams go about their business but it clearly works for them so who are we to argue?
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Team News
Kusal Perera appears to have recovered from his flirt with Covid-19 and he is expected to come back into the side. Ramesh Mendis is being touted for a place in the team as well in order to lengthen the Sri Lanka batting for the contest.
There is no Temba Bavuma for South Africa in this series so Keshav Maharaj will continue to skipper the side. David Miller has joined up with the team after he has recovered from a hamstring issue but the decision was made for Lungi Ngidi to head straight to the NFL.
Betting
I finished the ODI series between these two by taking the under on a runs line and that is how I’m going to begin the T20 matches as well because at 318.5 the line is fairly high for this part of the world. We have seen some high scoring T20s in Sri Lanka in the past but that has been on fresh pitches. We know these pitches aren’t fresh though because the ODIs were played here as well and batting became more difficult with each match.
I’ve mentioned above that South Africa are a batsman light in this format of the game and not only is that the case but they are without a couple of key members of their T20 World Cup squad with Quinton de Kock not here and Temba Bavuma injured. Sri Lanka’s struggles in this format are almost all down to the fact they get caught in a hole with the bat too many times so when you put all of those ingredients in the pie we should get under 318.5 runs.
Tips
Back Under 318.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.73 with Bet365
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