TRICKY T20 WORLD CUP OPENER AGAINST SRI LANKA AWAITS BETWAY SA20-LADEN PROTEAS

The T20 World Cup starts today for South Africa with a clash against Sri Lanka at the brand-new Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York (16:30 SAST).

As it happens, the Proteas will get arguably their toughest match of Group D out of the way first. Aidan Markram’s charges go into the tournament ranked 7th in T20 internationals while Sri Lanka are one place behind them. That said, with Bangladesh ranked ninth and Netherlands having derailed the Proteas’ 2022 campaign by beating them, the group (also featuring Nepal) is arguably the closest of all four in the tournament - so this fixture takes on added significance.

South Africa’s ranking took a three-place hit following their series loss to the West Indies in the build-up to the tournament, but that was without seven of their 15-man due to Indian Premier League commitments - including their entire first-choice middle-order of Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs. as well as all-rounder (and Betway SA20 Season 2 top wicket taker) Marco Jansen and experienced bowlers Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada.

The seven players who missed South Africa's warm-up series against West Indies will all likely slot straight into the Proteas playing XI against Sri Lanka.

Nonetheless, they have to be considered as favourites for the fixture – not least because they are on a seven-match unbeaten run against Sri Lanka (six wins and one tied), going back to 2019. Overall, the Proteas have won 11 of the 17 T20 internationals the two teams have played since first meeting in 2012 with Sri Lanka only managing five.

Three of their meetings have been in T20 showpieces, with South Africa holding a 2-1 advantage – Sri Lanka won their meeting in the 2014 tournament in India while the Proteas won in India in 2016 and United Arab Emirates in 2021.

Of course, while the players will bring the X-factor to the game, the vagaries of the newly built stadium east of New York City will be an unknown both teams will need to adjust to. Whoever does, may well make the early running in an intriguing group.

South Africa squad: Aiden Markram (captain - Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Ottniel Baartman (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Gerald Coetzee (Joburg Super Kings), Quinton de Kock (Durban's Super Giants), Bjorn Fortuin (Paarl Royals), Reeza Hendricks (Joburg Super Kings), Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Heinrich Klaasen (Durban's Super Giants), Keshav Maharaj (Durban's Super Giants), David Miller (Paarl Royals), Anrich Nortje (Pretoria Capitals), Kagiso Rabada (MI Cape Town), Ryan Rickelton (MI Cape Town), Tabraiz Shamsi (Paarl Royals), Tristan Stubbs (Sunrisers Eastern Cape). Travelling reserves: Nandre Burger (Joburg Super Kings), Lungi Ngidi (Paarl Royals).

Sri Lanka squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (captain), Charith Asalanka (vice-captain), Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara (MI Cape Town), Matheesha Pathirana, and Dilshan Madushanka. Traveling reserves: Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (Durban’s Super Giants), Janith Liyanage.

SOUTH AFRICA PLAYER TO WATCH

While Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs had top-class Indian Premier League campaigns, Aiden Markram had a relatively quiet one – despite helping Sunrisers Hyderabad to a runners-up place. Of course, Markram has lead Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back titles and remains the only South African captain to guide his team – the 2014 Under-19s – to a world title. As a result the 29-year-old can head into the T20 World Cup confident in his ability to lead a talented squad, but as number 3 batter and handy spinner, his playing role will be as pivotal to the Proteas’ success – starting with Sri Lanka.

SRI LANKA PLAYER TO WATCH

Nuwan Thushara is the sole SA20 representative in the Sri Lankan squad, and is a dangerman for the Proteas batters. That much the 29-year-old proved during Season 2 of South Africa’s premier T20 cricket league. After stepping in as a late Wildcard replacement for Jofra Archer, Thushara had to bide his time to get a go for MI Cape Town. Once he did, the Lasith Malinga lookalike picked up eight wickets in five matches – including a best of 3/37 against Pretoria Capitals, all via stumps-clattering swinging yorkers.