Trial by spin for South Africa

Sri Lanka might be tempted to play Malinga Bandara against South Africa as he averages 12.11 in four game against them

28-Mar-2007

South Africa face Sri Lanka in Guyana on Wednesday in what promises to be a fascinating contest. Cricinfo looks at some of the stats highlights.

Kumar Sangakkara has scored 980 runs and averages more than 40 against South Africa © AFP

South Africa and Sri Lanka have met 44 times in ODIs, and the honours are even, with both winning 21 times. There is nothing to separate them at neutral venues either, with eight wins each. Since the last World Cup they have met ten times, and while Sri Lanka have won seven, five of those victories were at home. In three World Cup clashes, it's one win apiece and a tie in 2003.

Jacques Kallis has scored the highest number of runs in ODIs between South Africa and Sri Lanka, with 1193 at an average of 49.70. Marvan Atapattu, with 1164 runs at 38.79, and Sanath Jayasuriya - 1030 at 24.52 - are the two others who have scored more than 1000 runs. (Click here for the complete list.) Among the other batsmen, Kumar Sangakkara has enjoyed facing the South African attack - his 980 runs have come at a healthy average of 40.83.

Shaun Pollock has taken 51 wickets in 34 matches against Sri Lanka, averaging 23 at 3.77 per over. Muttiah Muralitharan has collected 46 wickets in 30 matches at 23.13.

The new-ball bowlers from both teams have had success against the opposition top-order batsmen. Chaminda Vaas has dismissed Herschelle Gibbs nine times and Graeme Smith five, while Pollock has nailed Jayasuriya on eight occasions. The tables below list the performances of the leading seamers from either team against the opposition batsmen since 2002.

Chaminda Vaas's record against the South African batsmen since 2002
Batsman	Innings	Runs	Dismissals	Average	Balls	Strike Rate
Graeme Smith	13	94	5	18.8	189	50
Jacques Kallis	9	66	0	-	93	71
Herschelle Gibbs	15	91	5	18.2	159	58
Mark Boucher	8	54	1	54	62	88

Shaun Pollock's record against the Sri Lankan batsmen since 2002
Batsman	Innings	Runs	Dismissals	Average	Balls	Strike Rate
Sanath Jayasuriya	17	127	4	31.75	201	64
Marvan Atapattu	15	156	1	156	233	67
Kumar Sangakkara	15	97	3	32.33	151	65
Mahela Jayawardene	9	37	1	37	61	61

Makhaya Ntini's record against the Sri Lankan batsmen since 2002
Batsman	Innings	Runs	Dismissals	Average	Balls	Strike Rate
Sanath Jayasuriya	8	83	2	41.5	99	84
Marvan Atapattu	8	98	3	32.67	144	3
Kumar Sangakkara	10	77	0	-	98	79
Mahela Jayawardene	9	22	1	22	44	50

For South Africa to win, they'll have to overcome the threat posed by the Sri Lankan spinners. Muralitharan will obviously be a danger, but they might also have to look out for Malinga Bandara, who, if the conditions support him, could be a better option than one of the fast bowlers. In the three innings in which he has bowled against South Africa, he has taken nine wickets at 12.11 at 3.98 per over.

Muthiah Muralidaran Malinga Bandara Shaun Pollock Graeme Smith Sri Lanka South Africa ICC World Cup