The second Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka will take place on December 5 at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. Following South Africa’s victory in the first Test, both teams aim to secure a win to enhance their standing in the World Test Championship. The live match will begin at 2:00 PM IST, with a live toss at 1:30 PM IST, broadcasted on Sports18 in India and available for streaming on JioCinema.
The second Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka is set to commence on Thursday, December 5, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. Following the first Test, where Sri Lanka suffered a historic low score of 42, South Africa emerged victorious by 233 runs, with notable performances from players like Marco Jansen. Both teams seek to enhance their standings in the World Test Championship (WTC) for 2023-25 and maintain their chances for final qualification.
South Africa has made gains in the WTC standings and currently occupies the second position, benefitting from New Zealand’s recent penalties in the tournament. Captained by Temba Bavuma, South Africa will feature a strong lineup, including batsmen Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram, along with bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder. In contrast, Sri Lanka, under the captaincy of Dhananjaya de Silva, aims to recover from their defeat and boost their own hopes in the WTC race.
The head-to-head record shows a considerable advantage for South Africa, who has won 17 out of 32 encounters, while Sri Lanka has secured victory in 9. The live toss for the Test match will occur at 1:30 PM IST, with the match starting at 2:00 PM IST. The match will be broadcast live in India on the Sports18 network and will be available for streaming via the JioCinema app and website.
The context of this second Test is underscored by the significant implications it holds for the World Test Championship standings. After a surprising conclusion in the first Test, wherein Sri Lanka recorded their lowest score ever, the urgency for both teams to secure a victory escalates, particularly for South Africa, who are eyeing their first WTC final qualification. This match represents not only an opportunity for redemption for Sri Lanka but also a critical juncture for South Africa to solidify their position in the championship race. The dynamics of the WTC are particularly noteworthy in light of New Zealand’s recent loss and subsequent penalty points, which have inadvertently bolstered South Africa’s standing further, emphasizing the importance of this match.
The upcoming Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka is poised to be a pivotal encounter in the World Test Championship cycle. With South Africa fresh off a convincing win and Sri Lanka desperate to reclaim their standing following a dismal performance in the first Test, the stakes have never been higher. Both teams are determined to clinch a win that could greatly influence their chances for a spot in the WTC final. Fans can tune in for live coverage and streaming of the match on December 5.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
