The 2nd Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka is set to take place at St George’s Park, Gqeberha, from December 5th to 9th, 2024. The match will start at 10:00 AM local time (1:30 PM IST).
Teams Overview
South Africa: South Africa enters this match with high confidence after their dominant performance in the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban. They secured a massive 233-run victory, thanks to Marco Jansen’s sensational bowling spell and centuries from Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs. They are looking to seal the series with another commanding performance.
Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka, on the other hand, faced a tough challenge in the first Test, being bowled out for just 42 runs in their first innings. They will be looking to bounce back and put up a better fight in the second Test, with their key players needing to step up.
Key Players
South Africa:
- Temba Bavuma: The South African captain played a crucial role in the first Test with a century in the second innings and will be looking to lead from the front again.
- Tristan Stubbs: Another standout performer with a century in the second innings, adding stability to the middle order.
- Marco Jansen: The star of the first Test with a 7-wicket haul in the first innings, his bowling will be key again.
Sri Lanka:
- Dinesh Chandimal: He showed resilience in the first test and made a commendable effort in the chase, and his experience will be crucial.
- Dhananjaya de Silva: The captain will need to anchor the innings and provide stability to the batting order.
Head to Head:
- Total Matches Played: 32
- South Africa Wins: 17
- Sri Lanka won: 9
- Drawn Matches: 6
Probable Playing XI
South Africa:
- Aiden Markram
- Tony de Zorzi
- Tristan Stubbs
- Temba Bavuma (c)
- David Bedingham
- Kyle Verreynne (wk)
- Wiaan Mulder
- Marco Jansen
- Keshav Maharaj
- Kwena Maphaka
- Kagiso Rabada
Sri Lanka:
- Pathum Nissanka
- Dimuth Karunaratne
- Dinesh Chandimal
- Angelo Mathews
- Kamindu Mendis
- Dhananjaya de Silva (c)
- Kusal Mendis (wk)
- Prabath Jayasuriya
- Vishwa Fernando
- Lahiru Kumara
- Asitha Fernando
Live Streaming
- India:
- TV Channel: Sony Pictures Network (Specific channel to be announced)
- Live Streaming: SonyLIV app and website
- Pakistan:
- TV Channel: Asports
- Live Streaming: Tamasha App, Tapmad
Pitch Report
The pitch at St George’s Park is known to be a batsman-friendly surface with good bounce and carry. However, it can also assist the spinners as the match progresses. The weather forecast suggests sunny days with a slight breeze, which might dry out the pitch further and bring spinners into play, making it a balanced surface.
Probable Scenarios
- South Africa Dominates Again: If South Africa continues their dominant form, they could secure a series win and move closer to the World Test Championship final spot.
- Sri Lanka Bounces Back: Sri Lanka will be looking to avoid another collapse and put up a stronger fight to keep their WTC hopes alive.
- Close Contest: Given the nature of the pitch and the potential for spinners to play a role, the match could be a closely contested affair.
Match Predictions
Considering South Africa’s dominant performance in the first test and its strong spin attack, South Africa is the favorite to win the second test. However, cricket is a game of uncertainties, and Sri Lanka will be eager to turn things around and make a strong comeback. If Sri Lanka’s key players, particularly Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva, can deliver exceptional performances, they pose a significant challenge to South Africa and potentially secure a win to level the series.
