http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 vs Sri Lanka – 4th ODI – Match Preview
After securing the series, South Africa will be eager to maintain the intensity when they take on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Minal-Mahesh-Patel-c76331 Oval, Kimberley, January 20, 2012.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Allan-Robert-Border-c43726 de Villiers’ reign as the ODI skipper has started on an impressive note, defeating the Lankans convincingly in the first three games. His three dimensional role might take a toll later but presently, he is destined for success after performing exceptionally
on an individual note.
Despite extended breaks handed to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Faf-du-Plessis-c1427 seems ready to shoulder the burden with remarkable authority.
The key to success in the remaining two matches will mostly rely on the intensity levels of hosts after they convincingly outplayed their opponents to triumph in the opening three bouts.
Changes could be expected for the Kimberly clash with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Vernon-Philander-c2753 after the pacer’s impressive outings in the
longer version of the game.
There is also a case for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/J-Botha-c1610, the spinner is also in contention to get his first game of the series.
The batting order seems stable despite Graeme Smith’s poor run with the bat. The former ODI leader has failed to overturn his abysmal showing but with coach, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gary-Kirsten-c58527 backing him, the left-hander is expected to feature – at least for the remaining two
encounters.
After the humiliating submission in the opening game, the Lankans have managed to put on an improved show in the second ODI before the rain-hit third game went in favour of the hosts, via a close D/L margin of 4 runs.
Much has been talked about the lack of firepower in their bowling ranks since the World Cup 2011 but it has been the batting lineup which has disappointed big time. Since then, apart from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jason-Neil-Gillespie-c66461
heights which led them to emerge finalists behind eventual winners, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750.
Their remarkable slump seems no stopping and with controversy of the field lingering, the Lankans face an uphill task to save their blushes. Their charge has been further dented by a back injury to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397, which has ruled him out of the remaining
contests.
However, his form has been nothing of note so an injection of young blood might spring a surprise. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hettige-Don-Rumesh-Lahiru-Thirimanne-c63124 is set to take the place of the veteran in the middle-order, while the rest of the combination is expected to remain unchanged.
Having discussed in length over the poor form endured by skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691, it is fair to suggest that the final bouts remains his best chance of saving his career.
The assignment will be tricky however; the Lankans could take heart from the pitch which is expected to be a flat track, supported by a scorching sunny day. There is 20 percent chance of rain though so both sides will need to keep a close tab on the Duckworth-Lewis
to calculate the necessary permutations.
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