SA vs SL, ODI World Cup 2023 Stats & Records at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi

Sri Lanka (SL) and South Africa (SA) will face each other in match No. four of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on October 7 at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi.

Sri Lanka will be coming into the contest on the back of an awful Asia Cup finals, getting bowled out for 50 on their home soil against India while they lost two back-to-back warm-up games as well against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Though they have a good record in the last 16 games, winning 14 matches, two of their losses came against India. Performance in the finals has reduced their confidence going into the marquee event.

Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawicrama and Pathum Nissanka are all among the runs for Lanka, while Theekshana Wellalage and Pathirana have performed well with the ball. Injury to Hasaranga and lack of form from Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya de Silva are the concerns for them before the start of the World Cup. SL need Shanaka and de Silva to step up so as to go deep in the tournament.

South Africa, on the other hand, will be coming into the contest on the back of a 3-2 series win over Australia, while their bad relationship with the rain continued in the warm-up game as they lost to NZ by seven runs by DLS method. All their top six batters got some runs in the warm-up game, with de Kock and Van der Dussen scoring half-centuries.

South Africa have a good record against Sri Lanka in the World Cup, winning four matches and losing one game. Marco Jansen has been impressive for SA in 2023, picking up 16 wickets in 11 games while Tabraiz Shamsi and Lungi Ngidi have picked 13 and 12 wickets, respectively. South Africa will look to continue their World Cup dominance over Sri Lanka and will look to start the WC Campaign on a high.

Also see: South Africa vs Sri Lanka Live Match Updates

Sri Lanka vs South Africa Head-to-Head:

In as many as 80 games played between the two teams, South Africa have got the upper hand with 45 wins to Sri Lanka’s 33 wins.

Arun Jaitley Stadium ODI Records 

In as many as 26 games played at this venue, the pacers have taken 214 wickets at an average of 32.21 compared to spinners, who have taken 120 wickets at an average of 31.25. 12 games have been won by teams batting first, while teams chasing have won 13 matches, and one game has ended in NR. The average first-batting score is 230.

The Battles to Watch Out For:

Kusal Mendis vs Lungi Ngidi

In seven innings played between each other, Kusal Mendis has scored 42 runs at an average of 21 while Ngidi has picked him twice, Ngidi has also bowled 26 dots out of 44 balls. It will be interesting to see how Markram uses Ngidi against Mendis.

Quinton de Kock vs Dhananjaya de Silva:

Both players have played each other in ten innings, and de Kock has scored 90 runs in 110 balls while de Silva has bowled 64 dots and has picked two wickets. De Kock averages 45 against de Silva. Shanaka will bring in de Silva probably in the powerplay as he has got more dot balls against de Kock; with de Kock’s tendency to go for runs earlier, de Silva will look like a threat for him in the powerplay.

X-factors for Sri Lanka vs South Africa

Sri Lanka:

Kusal Perera: Perera has been a brilliant opening batter for SL; he has smashed 384 runs against SA at an average of around 30 and has struck at 95. The start Perera gives will be the boost for SL to go deep in the innings. With the ability to go wild for runs, Perera will be the key for SL in their opener at Delhi.

South Africa:

Quinton de Kock: De Kock has amassed over 1119 runs at an average of 48.65 in 24 innings at a strike rate of over 100, and he definitely holds the key for SA as SL have a greater number of spin bowling options in their side. The ability to give a fierce start in the powerplay makes him the X-factor.

SA vs SL Probable XIs:

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawicrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana.

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie Van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi.