COC Cricbattle Daily Fantasy Cricket League Tips: Sri Lanka vs South Africa on July 20
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Sri Lanka recorded a comprehensive 278-run win against South Africa at Galle to go 1-0 up in the two-game series. South Africa will now look to bounce back to square the series 1-1 when they take on the hosts in the second and final test match to be played from July 20 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. At this ground, both teams have faced each other in five tests. The hosts have won two of those while the Proteas have won just one with the remaining two matches having ended in stalemates. Sri Lanka have lost just one out of the six test matches they have played this year. They won a two-match series 1-1 in Bangladesh in February, then drew a three-match series 1-1 against the West Indies before coming into this home series against South Africa. On the flipside, Africans are 0-1 down and will be under a lot of pressure as a defeat in this match would mean a series whitewash.
Best economical pick – Sri Lankan Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera was the chief destroyer of South African batting in the first test. He took 4 wickets for 46 runs in the first innings, then destroyed South Africa in the second innings by taking 6 wickets.
Top captains & vice captains – Sri Lanka opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne was in prolific form during the Galle test with the bat and he will be the key man for hosts in the second test as well. The opening batsman hit 158 not out and 60 in the respective innings. He will once again hope to play a crucial role in defying the South African bowlers. The visitors will be desperate for his scalp. For South Africa Skipper Faf Du Plessis top-scored with 49 runs in the first test with the bat and his performance will be crucial in second one too. Except him, all the African batsmen failed miserably against the Sri Lankan spinners and another flip won't help their cause either.
Smart pick – Kusal Mendis has been batting beautifully over the last few months. He played with maturity in the tough conditions in West Indies and much will depend on how he carries himself in this series. He is likely to bat at number 3 with the return of Karunaratne in the side and has to score big to help his side beat the Proteas for the first time in the last 12 years in Tests.
Cautious Pick – South Africa badly needed an experienced hand to guide them in Galle, when their batsmen were at times guilty of letting the Sri Lankan spinners play on their minds. Hashim Amla, however, managed just 15 and 0 in his two outings. His batting average is 24.93 in Test cricket in his last 17 innings. He has scored 419 runs in those innings with the help of four fifties.
My XI – Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain) Faf Du Plessis (Vice-Captain) Kusal Mendis, Dilruwan Perera, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Rangana Herath, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Niroshan Dickwella
