1st Test: Sri Lanka opt to field first in Durban

Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa 2024 kicks off today, Wednesday, November 27, with the first Test in Durban. 

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva won the toss and opted to bowl first against South Africa.

This match is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle 2023-25, with both teams still in contention for the final spot. South Africa currently sit in third, while Sri Lanka have dropped to sixth, with England sandwiched between them in a tightly contested top-six.

The two sides have met 31 times in Test cricket, with South Africa leading the head-to-head 16-9, and six matches ending in draws.

The first Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka will start at 1:00 PM IST at Kingsmead.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (C), Kusal Mendis (WK), Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando.

South Africa (Playing XI) - Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (C), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (WK), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada.

Source: Outlook
--Agencies