Lutho Sipamla impressed on his international debut © Gallo Images/Getty Images
Toss South Africa opt to field v Sri Lanka
South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl in the first T20 against Sri Lanka, at Newlands
Lutho Sipamla, the 20-year-old fast bowler, had been in the squad only for the second and third T20s, but has been named in the XI for this game, after a side strain and a shoulder injury ruled Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje out respectively. Sipamla is playing his third T20I, and will join Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir and Andile Phehlukwayo in the attack.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have chosen to stick with opener Avishka Fernando, despite his modest returns in the ODI series. This will be Avishka’s T20I debut.
Also in the team is legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, playing his first international since October 2017, and his first T20 for Sri Lanka since March 2016. In the spin ranks, he will all-sorts offspinner Akila Dananjaya, and ambidextrous finger-spinner Kamindu Mendis, for company. Isuru Udana and captain Lasith Malinga are the fast bowlers.
The weather is expected to remain good for the duration of the encounter, though whether the floodlights will last the course is another matter. The fifth ODI had to be decided by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method after the floodlight failed mid-way into South Africa’s chase.
David Miller, meanwhile, was named South Africa’s keeper while Quinton de Kock will play as an outfielder. Signs that both teams are building towards the 50-over World Cup.
Although Quinton de Kock is South Africa’s first-choice keeper, David Miller has been designated wicketkeeper for this match, out of the team’s desire to give Miller keeping-practice in match situations. South Africa’s World Cup is not expected to contain a back-up specialist wicketkeeper, and Miller may find himself in that job if de Kock is unable to perform the role.
South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock, 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 Rassie van der Dussen, 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller (wk), 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Kagiso Rabada, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Lutho Sipamla, 11 Imran Tahir
Sri Lanka: 1 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dhananjaya de Silva, 5 Angelo Perera, 6 Kamindu Mendis, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Akila Dananjatya, 10 Jeffrey Vandersay, 11 Lasith Malinga (capt)
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo