Cricket Match Prediction | South Africa vs Sri Lanka | 1st Test | Nov 27 – Who will win the first SA vs SL fixture?

RSA vs SL Match Analysis

On November 27, 2024, at the Kingsmead, Durban, Sri Lanka and South Africa will play the first Test of a two-match series at 1:30 p.m. BST. South Africa holds a significant advantage over Sri Lanka in their head-to-head encounters. Out of 31 matches between the two teams, South Africa has secured 16 victories, while Sri Lanka has managed to win only 9 games. The remaining 6 matches have ended without a result.

Sri Lanka currently holds third place in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings, with five wins and four defeats. This match is a crucial fixture in the WTC cycle and offers South Africa an important opportunity to strengthen their position and push towards qualifying for the WTC final.

RSA vs SL Team Preview & Squads

South Africa 

South Africa enters the match as strong favorites, buoyed by their recent series victory over Bangladesh. The home side delivered a confident performance in both games, with several players in exceptional form. Aiden Markram has been a standout in 2024, consistently producing for the team. The top-order batter has amassed 2,500 Test runs at an average of 35, showcasing his reliability in the format.

On the bowling front, Keshav Maharaj is poised to play a pivotal role. As the team’s second-highest wicket-taker in 2024, his ability to turn challenging situations in South Africa’s favor will be invaluable. The squad also sees key players returning, including Temba Bavuma, who has recovered from an elbow injury. Additionally, Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen are eager to make their mark again. RSA boasts a formidable batting lineup, while their bowling attack will heavily rely on the pacers to deliver. 

South Africa Squads

South Africa

Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Dane Paterson, and Kagiso Rabada.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka enters this series on the back of a recent Test victory over New Zealand but faces areas that require improvement, particularly at the top of the batting order. Given their struggles against South Africa in the past, the visitors have reasons for concern ahead of this encounter. 

South Africa’s favorable conditions, especially for pace bowlers, could pose significant challenges, with the potential for early wickets leading to a batting collapse for Sri Lanka.

Despite having a batting lineup that shows depth on paper, SL’s recent performances, such as in the New Zealand series, highlight its insufficiency under pressure. However, the inclusion of emerging talents adds a spark to the squad. Kamindu Mendis is a standout, boasting an exceptional Test average of 91 and over 1,000 runs in just eight matches. Meanwhile, Asitha Fernando has proven his mettle with 59 wickets at an average of 25, contributing significantly to the team’s prospects. 

Sri Lanka Squads

Sri Lanka

Oshada Fernando, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Lasith Embuldeniya, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Nishan Peiris, Kasun Rajitha, and Milan Rathnayake.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka outfield report

Kingsmead, Durban

It’s well known that Kingsmead’s surface encourages a lot of bounce and pace. In a test match between the two sides in 2019, it defeated South Africa on this field. In the early innings, this would be particularly noticeable. Later in the game, batting would be much simpler as a result. The winner of the toss will probably decide to bowl first.

Conditions for the village first innings score Durbin are predicted to be partly overcast. During the day, the highest temperature is predicted to be no more than 27°C and no lower than 21°C. It is anticipated that bowlers with a lot of bounce may benefit from the pitch.   

RSA vs SL Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

RSA won two of their five games, while SL won three.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka Prediction

Cricket analysts predict South Africa has a 77% chance of winning.

Disclaimer: This cricket prediction is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.