Playing on their home grounds, Sri Lankan team dominated the ODI series against South Africa earlier in this month. Unfortunately, they did not replicate the same skill set in their first T20I against the visitors and lost their first game in the three match series. Sri Lanka will play their 2nd T20 match against South Africa on 12th of September, Sunday in Colombo. The T20I Championship is around the corner and this is the best time for the players to hone their skills and perform better in the bigger tournament. Even though South Africa faced criticism when they announced their squad for the T20I Championship as they dropped many experienced players like Faf Du Plessis and Moeen Ali among others, they came out strong and you can expect a good performance in the World Cup ahead.
The opening batsmen from South Africa did a good job and scored 73 runs in the first wicket partnership. The partnership broke in the 10th over when Quinton lost his wicket to Hasaranga scoring 36, soon after that his partner Hendricks ended his knock on 38 when Theekshana caught him in Hasaranga's next over.
Quinton de Kock and Miller's performance was good but Man of the Match Aiden Markram, played magnificent innings and contributed well to the score. Even though wicket keeper Dinesh Chandimal's 66 gave some hopes to the team but continuous fall of wickets in the later part made them lose the match. Given South Africa's performance they could decide to go into the field with an unchanged playing XI to clinch the series.
In response to South Africa's 164-run target, Sri Lanka made a modest start, but their wickets fell incessantly afterwards, which prevented them from chasing down the target.
Sri Lanka suffered a 28-run defeat as South African spinners wreaked havoc on a track that was receiving a lot of grip and turn. However, the hosts would like to make a comeback in the second T20I and repeat their performance in the ODI series.
Weather Report
Colombo's weather at this time of the year remains humid with temperatures varying between 26 to 30. The temperature at R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday 12th of September will be around 28 degrees and the air is expected to have filled with extreme humidity.
Pitch Report
Even though the wicket is slow, it has been better than the previous game. The spinners will enjoy tremendously bowling at this pitch and while it would be a task for the batsmen to score a hefty target. Anything above 160 in the first inning will be an enough score to defend on this pitch.
Probable playing XI for Sri Lanka
Avishka Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Akila Dhananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana
Probable playing XI for South Africa
Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Dwaine Pretorius, Heinrich Klaasen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj (c),Bjorn Fortuin, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi
Key Players (South Africa)
Aiden Markram, David Miller
Key Players (Sri Lanka)
Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga
