Sri Lanka’s tour of South Africa 2024 began on Wednesday, November 27, with the first Test in Durban, but Day 1 was washed out after just 20.4 overs due to rain. The Proteas were left reeling at 80/4, as Sri Lanka's Lahiru Kumara struck early with a brace. Openers Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi managed only 9 and 4 runs, respectively, before being dismissed.
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.
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva won the toss and opted to bowl first against South Africa.
South Africa Vs Sri Lanka 1st Test Playing XIs:
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(w), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva(c), Kamindu Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando
South Africa (Playing XI): Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma(c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham (wk), Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Kyle Verreynne (wk)
Sri Lanka: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Oshada Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Prabath Jayasuriya, Nishan Peiris, Lasith Embuldeniya, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha.
