Sri Lanka stack up pace unit for World Cup opener

A bit of grass on the pitch and shorter boundaries have tempted Sri Lanka to stack up its pace department as Sri Lanka look to forget the demons of the Asia Cup final and kick-off their World Cup campaign on a winning note against South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi tomorrow.

Sri Lanka lost the Asia Cup by 10-wickets as they were blown off by the Indian pacers to bowl them out for 50.

Although they lack the experience of the South African pace attack that includes Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, the three-man pace attack of Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka and Matheesha Pathirana look to make a strong statement when they take the field for the first time in a World Cup game.

Rajitha with 28 games behind him is the most senior out of the lot while 20-year-old Pathirana, has played 10 games and Madushanka just six. Thus, they do not have half the experience of Rabada (92 matches).

Despite this, they have formed a useful fast-bowling trinity in recent months and are expected to fight the strong South African batting line-up in a bid to end a 31-year-old winless streak at World Cup against the Proteas.

It was in 1992 that Sri Lanka last beat the Proteas in a World Cup game, thanks to an unbeaten half century (64) and two wickets by Arjuna Ranatunga, which helped them to a three-wicket win. Since then, South Africa have remained unbeaten against Sri Lanka, with their 2003 game ending in a tie.

However, after losing star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga for the entirety of the tournament, Sri Lanka was hoping for Maheesh Theekshana to be fit and raring to go from game one.

But his availability has been delayed at least by a few days, leaving young Dunith Wellalage to bear the brunt of leading the spin-attack. This would be a huge ask from the 20-year-old but with little options in their reserves, the team expects him to rise to the challenge in not-so-favourable conditions for slow bowling.

Dhananjaya de Silva is slotted in as the second spinner with Charith Asalanka as third.

“He has a very good head above the shoulder. He has shown with the bat and ball and also a very good fielder. We are not going to pressure on him. He knows that he is in the team,” said Chris Silverwood about Wellalage.

They will be hugely challenged by the likes of big-hitting David Miller and skipper Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock and Henrich Klaasen who have been in excellent form with the bat.

“Klaassen is walking on water at the moment with the way he's been batting,” said Bavuma. “He's obviously a big player, a big player for us. He's been part of our group for a number of years and he's truly shown why there's been so much faith and backing in his ability. Obviously, he comes in and he marshals that middle order of our batting and I guess his success, not to take credit away from it, is probably largely due to the platform that it gets from the guys who come in just be at the top of the order, whether it be Quinton, whether it be myself, whether it be Rassie at the top three. So, I think it's important that those guys do their jobs so guys like Klaassen, even a guy like David [Miller], Aiden [Markram], can go out and do what we expect and want them to do”.

The big question before Sri Lanka is the form and the fitness of Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka. Shanaka was seen flexing his muscles at the nets on Thursday but had complained of a slight pain in his left elbow after hitting the ball at the nets.

Apart from the injury, Shanaka has had a miserable form with the bat and this has long been a point of discussion within the team management. Despite many calling for his head, purely because of his batting slump, he was retained the skipper of the side for his maiden World Cup. How long a non-performing captain could hold his place in the side is a big question.

Head coach Chris Silverwood confirmed Theekshana’s unavailability and said that both Shanaka and Kusal Perera are fit to play.

He averages 9.78 and has scored 76 since March this year. If he is unavailable due to injury, Kusal Mendis is expected to take the baton and this may force reshuffling of the batting order to fit in test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne in the playing XI.

With Karunaratne coming in, Kusal Perera is expected to play the role of floater in the side. But in the event of Shanaka regaining his fitness and the team management deciding to give him a go, Karunaratne will sit it out, making the way for Kusal Janith Perera to open.

South Africa’s preparation in India did not go according to plan due to rain. Having beaten Australia 3-2 in a come-from-behind victory, however, the perennial underachievers are beaming with confidence to make the difference that the African nation long waited for.

Proteas are without pacer Anrich Nortje and, in his absence they will rely on the experience of Rabada, Ngidi and the exuberance of 23-year-old Gerald Coetzee to challenge the Sri Lankan batters. They also have the luxury of having two spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi. With a strong batting and bowling line-up, South Africa will fancy their chances but, on their day, Sri Lanka can upset any team. (Champika Fernando in New Delhi)

Teams

Sri Lanka (Probable): Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Pathum Nissanka, Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka.

South Africa (From): Temba Bavuma (Captain), 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.