The 5-0 margin of victory in the ODIs were the best possible result for South Africa ahead of the premier global event. The fact that all departments clicked together augurs well for the team, even if it came against a Sri Lanka side that was underwhelming.
With impressive performances in the ODIs, Aiden Markram and Anrich Nortje have earned their maiden call-ups to the T20I squad. Impress once again, and their push for selection in South Africa’s World Cup squad will gain strength.
While Markram fought his way back to ODI reckoning with two List A centuries and then scored a career-best 67*, Nortje performed the rather impressive feat of keeping out Dale Steyn on a couple of occasions as he returned eight wickets in four matches.
Sinethemba Qeshile, the 20-year-old uncapped batsman, is another new entrant to the T20I squad – he will be available for the last two T20Is.
All of Steyn, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, the captain, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi will be rested after the first T20I, opening up opportunities for the likes of Qeshile, and the pacemen Lutho Sipamala and Dwaine Pretorius.
Imran Tahir is another player who will be rested after the first match, leaving Tabraiz Shamsi, the left-arm wrist-spinner, as the only specialist spinner in the squad for the last two matches.
For the visitors, their historic win in the Tests must seem surreal. So poor have they been in the ODIs that their captain, Lasith Malinga, has openly voiced his ire after Sri Lanka failed to cross 250 in any of the five matches and were bundled out for sub-200 scores in three of them.
Sri Lanka’s highest scorer in the series, Kusal Mendis, was 70 runs behind du Plessis, and their second-highest scorer, Oshada Fernando, averaged only 25.40.
It will, no doubt, be tough for Sri Lanka to bounce back on this tour. They will hope some of the changes to their squad – leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay has returned after nearly three years, along with Suranga Lakmal – will spark a revival.
Squads
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Rassie van der Dussen
Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Priyamal Perera, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Isuru Udana, Asitha Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshan Sandakan
