SA vs SL 2024/25, SA vs SL 1st test match report, November 27th – December 1st, 2024

Throw Sri Lanka chose bowling vs South Africa

Sri Lanka won the toss under the heavy Durban skies and elected to bowl first. It was the expected decision from Dhananjaya de Silva – not only will the ball swing due to the atmospheric conditions early in the day, but Sri Lanka have also won second at the venue twice.

Although the pitch at Kingsmead tends to alternate later in the game, both teams have opted for just a single specialist spinner – Keshav Maharaj and Prabath Jayasuriya – both left-handed orthodoxies.

South Africa’s close attack consists of Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzeee, Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen. Sri Lanka are without all-rounder Milan Rathnayake and have Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando in their ranks. Kusal Mendis will keep wickets and bat at number 7 while Dinesh Chandimal will bat at number 3.

Some rain is expected later in the day on Wednesday.

South Africa: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Tony de Zorzi, 3 Tristan Stubbs, 4 Temba Bavuma (captain), 5 David Bedingham, 6 Kyle Verreynne (week), 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Wiaan Mulder, 9 Gerald Coetzee, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Kagiso Rabada

Sri Lanka: 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Kamindu Mendis, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva (Capt), 7 Kusal Mendis (Week), 8 Prabath Jayasuriya, 9 Lahiru Kumara, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Vishwa Fernando