2016 ICC World Twenty20 Group 1: South Africa and Sri Lanka aim to go out on high
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | March 27, 2016
South Africa v Sri Lanka
- ICC World Twenty20, Match 32
- Monday, March 28th
- Play starts: 15:00 BST
- Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
- Live on Sky Sports 2
Sri Lanka to win final match of title defence
South Africa (4/9 favourites with Coral) are 3-2 up against counterparts Sri Lanka in 20-over head-to-heads, but the ICC World Twenty20 title holders have won the last two and are therefore tempting 7/4 shouts to go out on a high in this dead rubber.
As both teams have recorded just a sole victory apiece from their opening three matches this tournament, this will be their final fixture no matter what as the West Indies and England were the two teams to qualify from Group 1.
With sole wins over pool whipping boys Afghanistan, who more than proved that they are a cricket nation on the rapid rise, one of the Proteas and Lions will desperately hope to at least restore some pride.
The South Africans sit ahead of Sri Lanka on net run rate, due to being the only team to have recorded two 200-plus totals these finals.
Batsmen have been shining light for Proteas
AB de Villiers, Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla have all been top scorer for their side this World Twenty20, and are respective 5/2, 3/1 and 3/1 shouts to do so again.
ODI skipper De Villiers is also the subject of a Coral match wincast, with odds of 9/2 to be best South Africa batsman and his team win.
But Sri Lankan duo Tillakaratne Dilshan and stand-in captain Angelo Mathews (for the injured Lasith Malinga) have recorded higher individual totals in India, with the latter’s unbeaten knock of 73 off 54 almost eliminating England. They are 11/4 and 5/1 to top score for the South Asian island.
Dilshan can deliver one more
Evergreen Dilshan has hit a match-winning unbeaten 74 against South Africa before too, and so is a great 10/1 price in another enhanced wincast.
Spinners Jeffrey Vandersay (3/1 to be top Sri Lanka bowler) and Milinda Siriwardana (6/1), as well as Thisara Perera (5/1), have done most of the damage for the Lions with the ball, meanwhile.
Veteran Rangana Herath (10/3) also caused some problems early on for England, as he took the early wicket of opener Alex Hales and finished with respectable figures of 1-27 from his four overs.
For South Africa, pace stars Kagiso Rabada (10/3 to be top Proteas bowler) and Dale Steyn (7/2) have somewhat failed to deliver this tournament, with most of the wickets going to Imran Tahir (11/4), Chris Morris (10/3) and Kyle Abbott (7/2).
Related
Coral’s top tip: Sri Lanka are fantastic 7/4 shouts just to win their final match of the 2016 ICC World Twenty20.
