The match 4 of ICC ODI World Cup 2023 between South Africa (SA) and Sri Lanka (SL) at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, 7 October promises to be an exciting contest. Both the teams have a star-studded squad and are major contenders to win the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. They will be keen to kick off the tournament on a winning note.
Both the teams, South Africa and Sri Lanka have a fierce rivalry in the format. They have played 80 ODI matches, with South Africa winning 45 games and Sri Lanka winning 33 games so far in the head to head encounters. In this article, we will take a look at the key player battles to watch out for in the match 4 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 between South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Also Read: SA vs SL World Cup 2023: Where to Watch Today Match Live for Free on TV and Mobile App
Here are three player battles to watch out for during SA vs SL match:
1) Temba Bavuma vs Maheesh Theekshana
Temba Bavuma has been South Africa’s leading run-scorer in One-day Internationals this year. Over the course of 10 ODI matches, he has amassed an impressive 637 runs at an average of 79.62, including three centuries and two fifties. As the captain of the team at this marquee event, Bavuma shoulders significant responsibility. However, he faces a challenging matchup against Maheesh Theekshana, who has been in exceptional form for Sri Lanka. Theekshana’s skill set is well-suited to Indian conditions, and he has taken 31 wickets in 15 ODIs this year.
2) Quinton de Kock vs Kasun Rajitha
Quinton de Kock will be participating in his third ICC ODI Cricket World Cup for South Africa. His experience is invaluable to the team’s aspirations in the tournament. However, de Kock’s performances in the ODI format this year have been relatively modest. In 10 matches, he has accumulated 343 runs at an average of 34.30, with just one half-century to his name. In the opening clash, he will face Kasun Rajitha, a bowler who has dismissed de Kock on two occasions in four ODI matches.
3) Dhananjaya de Silva vs Kagiso Rabada
Dhananjaya de Silva has faced challenges with the bat for Sri Lanka in the current year. He holds an average of 27.07, having scored 379 runs in 19 matches, with two half-centuries. One of his hurdles will be Kagiso Rabada, whom he has encountered multiple times in international cricket. However, in the ODI format, Rabada has proven to be his nemesis, dismissing Dhananjaya twice. As a result, Dhananjaya has struggled to maintain a healthy strike rate of only 47.3 against the pace of Rabada.