Lankans have the edge

Monday 16 March 2015 04:21 PM IST

byPaul Abraham K

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Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga in action during a training session at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday. AFP

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South Africa will be desperate to shed the chokers' tag when they take on Sri Lanka in the first quarterfinal of the ICC World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

The Proetas, who started the tournament as one of the top contenders along with co-hosts New Zealand and Australia, have not played to their potential. Defeats at the hands of India and Pakistan have proved that A B de Villiers's men can wilt under pressure, especially while chasing. One more slip and it could be all over for South Africa in yet another World Cup.For all their talent and consistency in the one-dayers, South Africa are yet to win a knockout game in the showpiece event. De Villiers will be keen to erase the bitter memories of 1992, 1996, 1999, 2007 and 2011 when they lock horns with Angelo Mathews's well-drilled side. The Proteas crashed out of the competition in the group stage when they co-hosted the event in 2003 after playing out a tie with the Lankas in a must-win game. The Sri Lankans will offer stiff challenge as they know how to raise their game on the big stage. The 1996 champions have made it to semifinals of the past three editions of the World Cup, and in fact fell only at the last hurdle in 2007 and 2011.

The Lankan top order has been among the runs, with opener Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara being prolific. Opener Lahiru Thirimanne and Mahela Jayawardene too have notched up important hundreds in the group phase. Mathews has been one of the most consistent performers for the island nation in the last few years and Thissara Perera can be expected to come good under pressure.

Poor showings by Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis up front have put immense pressure on De Villiers, David Miller and J P Duminy down the order. This campaign has given a rude wake-up call to South Africa about the road ahead without the genius of Jacques Kallis. For so long Kallis provided the Proteas solidity and balance, while the rest of the teams looked at him with envy.