WC 2015 SA vs SL: All you need to know about the first quarterfinals
Sydney: Ten facts for Wednesday's World Cup quarterfinal between South Africa and Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
1. Seven of the last eight one-day internationals (ODI) between these teams have been won by the team that batted first. All eight of these matches were played in Sri Lanka.
2. The last 16 ODIs between South Africa and Sri Lanka have produced eight wins apiece.
3. Mahela Jayawardene averages 22.9 in the 42 ODI innings he has played against South Africa, his second lowest average against the 18 teams he has faced.
(Photo: AFP)
4. Lasith Malinga recorded the only instance in ODIs of a bowler taking four wickets in four balls in the 2007 World Cup clash between these teams, a one-wicket victory for South Africa.
5. Malinga has taken 92 ODI wickets bowled, the joint-fifth most with Anil Kumble. Wasim Akram (176) has the most.
6. Kumar Sangakkara needs one stumping to become the first wicket-keeper to take 100 ODI stumpings.
7. Sangakkara needs four runs to become the seventh player to score 500 runs in a World Cup tournament. He has four centuries in this tournament, the most recorded in a single World Cup.
Read: ‘I would love if Kumar Sangakkara plays for few more years’
8. De Villiers (1,142 runs in 21 innings) needs seven runs to pass Jacques Kallis (1,148 in 32) as South Africa's leading World Cup run-scorer.
9. Tillakaratne Dilshan has scored 148 runs off the 144 balls Morne Morkel has bowled to him in ODIs and been dismissed twice.
10. David Miller has scored 32 runs off the 19 balls Thisara Perera has bowled to him in ODIs, hitting two fours and three sixes, without being dismissed.
Key Players
South Africa
AB de Villiers
His last innings at the SCG was a staggering 162 not out which included the quickest 150 in an ODI, off just 64 balls, against the West Indies in a pool match. Blessed with stunning hand-eye co-ordination, he is capable of improvising the unlikeliest of shots.
Read: 'Do not get too hung up thinking about AB de Villiers'
But the question for de Villiers, as it is for South Africa, is can he produce his best in the pressure of a knockout match?
Quinton de Kock
Young Quinton de Kock has not been amongst the run-getters off late. Averaging over 37 runs in ODIs, don’t count this wicketkeeper-bastman out. De Kock underperformance has been a bit of a concern for the Proteas but he’s got the backing of the ‘rock’ of the team Hashim Amla. The veteran batsman was reportedly heard saying that Quinny (as de Kock is fondly called) will come good at some stage. Let’s hope Amla’s words prove true on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka
Kumar Sangakkara
The veteran wicket-keeper has been in sensational form with the bat at this World Cup becoming the first man to score hundreds in four successive ODIs with innings of 105 not out against Bangladesh, 117 not out against England, 104 against Australia and 124 against Scotland. A left-hander with a supreme ability to pace an innings, the 37-year-old plans to retire from ODI cricket after the World Cup.
Read: Record-breaking Kumar Sangakkara seals Sri Lanka’s massive win over Scotland
Sri Lanka are desperate for his run-spree to continue but cricket common sense suggests he is due a low score soon. South Africa will feel like they've taken two wickets if he goes cheaply on Wednesday.
Thisara Perera
All-rounder Thisara Perera, known for his big hits hasn’t been able to fire this World Cup. Other than the 47 not out against non-Test playing nation Afghanistan, Perera has not troubled the scorers much. His contribution to the side will prove to be a match winning one if the Island country have to emerge victorious against the mighty Proteas. A key man in the side, according to veteran Mahela Jayawardene Perera can bring balance in the side.
HEAD-TO-HEAD OVERALL RECORD
Played: 59
South Africa: 28
Sri Lanka: 29
Tied: 1
No result: 1
First meeting: March 02, 1992 in Wellington, Sri Lanka won by three wickets
Last five meetings:
July 28, 2013, Pallekele, Sri Lanka won by eight wickets
July 31, 2013, Colombo, Sri Lanka won by 128 runs
July 06, 2014, Colombo, South Africa won by 75 runs
July 09, 2014, Pallekele, Sri Lanka won by 87 runs
July 12, 2014, Hambantota, South Africa won by 82 runs
In World Cup
Played: 4
South Africa: 2
Sri Lanka: 1
Tied: 1
March 02, 1992, Wellington, Sri Lanka won by three wickets
May 19, 1999, Northampton, South Africa won by 89 runs
March 03, 2003, Durban, Match tied
March 28, 2007, Guyana, South Africa won by one wicket
