We kick off the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 with a clash between two teams that can lay claims to be the number one ODI team in the World. South Africa will start as favourites with home ground advantage. The opening pair of Gibbs and Smith will face off against the leading ODI wicket taker for the year in Kulasekara with Malinga to sling down balls at 140km/h+.
AB de Villiers, JP Duminy and Kallis form a formible middle order with the late hitting of Boucher and Morkel to follow. Their battle with the spin twins and Mathews could go a long way to deciding this match up.
Sri Lanka have found some much needed form in their batting with their massive total against India in the weekend. With arguably the best ODI opening pair in Dilshan and Jayasuriya, South Africa will want their new ball bowlers to get one if not both openers before they can unleash carnage. Lonwabo Tsotsobe should be the first change bowler especially after making quite the impression on debut against Australia with swing at good pace. Botha and Roelof van der Merwe will face a much tougher task in containing the Sri Lanka batters who are renown for their playing of spin. Kallis and Morkel cap off the bowling giving Smith at least 7 bowling options with Duminy also capable of rolling a few over.
This match shapes up as a cracker especially if Sri Lanka can bring their form from home to South Africa.
Predicated lineups:
South Africa: Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, AB De Villers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher, Albie Morkel, Roelof van der Merwe, Parnell, Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan , Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Thilina Kandamby/Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan
AB de Villiers, JP Duminy and Kallis form a formible middle order with the late hitting of Boucher and Morkel to follow. Their battle with the spin twins and Mathews could go a long way to deciding this match up.
Sri Lanka have found some much needed form in their batting with their massive total against India in the weekend. With arguably the best ODI opening pair in Dilshan and Jayasuriya, South Africa will want their new ball bowlers to get one if not both openers before they can unleash carnage. Lonwabo Tsotsobe should be the first change bowler especially after making quite the impression on debut against Australia with swing at good pace. Botha and Roelof van der Merwe will face a much tougher task in containing the Sri Lanka batters who are renown for their playing of spin. Kallis and Morkel cap off the bowling giving Smith at least 7 bowling options with Duminy also capable of rolling a few over.
This match shapes up as a cracker especially if Sri Lanka can bring their form from home to South Africa.
Predicated lineups:
South Africa: Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, AB De Villers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher, Albie Morkel, Roelof van der Merwe, Parnell, Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan , Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Thilina Kandamby/Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan
