NEW DELHI, June 02 (PTI): Sri Lanka will rely on its exceptionally varied bowling attack to tame the unrestrained batting power of South Africa in its Group D T20 World Cup opener here on Monday.
They will be eager to get onto the points table at the earliest too as some tricky teams like Netherlands, Bangladesh and Nepal are clubbed with them in the group.
South Africa has spread all its cards on the table as the team selection indicated the most likely route it would take in this ICC showpiece.
A batting line-up consisting of captain Aiden Markram, wicketkeeper batter Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs could be a nightmare for any bowling attack.
Klaasen and Stubbs have been in roaring form of late. In this World Cup cycle, the right-hander has averaged 41 and struck runs at 182.
In IPL (Indian Premier League) 2024 too, Klaasen made 471 runs from 16 matches at a strike rate of 171 for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Stubbs has been equally impressive for Delhi Capitals, amassing 378 runs from 14 matches at a strike rate of 190.
Both these gifted power-strikers feature in the middle-order, when the spinners will be in operation, and to add to Lanka's worries, they are phenomenal against the tweakers, especially Klaasen.
In the run-up to the World Cup, the 32-year-old from Transvaal has averaged 59 against spin and made runs at an eye-watering strike rate of 191.
Meanwhile, in a Group B clash at Bridgetown, Namibia, a dominant force in the African Qualifiers, will be hoping for a winning start against Oman.
However, it would not be that easy for Namibia as Oman had run it close in April, before conceding the five-match series 2-1.
Hence, Oman, which is making its third appearance in a T20 WC, will be hoping for a better outcome this time.
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