The form guide in this World Cup can be hard to read.
After all Kenya beat Sri Lanka who beat New Zealand who beat the
West Indies who beat South Africa who beat Kenya?
It appears that there is no method to the madness of predicting the winners
of any game, but there has been some semblance of a recurring theme when it
comes to the day/night games.
To date, there have been just five day/night games in the World Cup. Four
times the side batting first has won and when Kenya defeated Canada batting
second, it was a lot closer than Kenya would have liked.
There are only two more day/night pool games and both will have a major
influence in deciding the final shape of an incredibly tight Pool B.
Sri Lanka play West Indies and South Africa in day/night games.
Sri Lanka's record in day/night games is 61 wins, 65 losses, one tie and
five no results. When winning the toss in day/night games, their record is
35 wins, 30 losses and five no results.
Interestingly enough, they have never lost a World Cup game under lights.
Mind you, they only played two; the 1996 World Cup semi-final and final and
that was a much stronger side than the present one.
Kingsmead hosts the pivotal South Africa-Sri Lanka game and also is the
venue of a super six day/nighter and a semi-final which is played under
lights. What is Kingsmead's history when it comes to day/nighters?
The ground has hosted 20 games overall, of which the side batting first has
won 10, the side batting second nine times and one no result. So nothing
much there.
When it comes to the 13 day/nighters played at Durban, the side batting
first has won five times to the seven of the side batting second with one no
result.
Of those 12 games, the side winning the toss has won nine of them so the
toss is going to play an incredibly decisive factor in the outcome.
At Newlands, the venue of the Sri Lanka v West Indies game, there have been
18 day/nighters. Of those, the side winning the toss has won 14 of the
games.
The side which finished second in Pool B has two day/nighters in their three
super six matches. That may work in their favour, or against them, depending
on the outcome of the toss.
There is no doubt that the ball has been swinging around in the South
African conditions at night. James Anderson and Ashish Nehra made the most
of the conditions and had the ball talking as they captured 10 wickets
between them and both were named men of their matches.
Sri Lanka only require to win one of their final two pool games to qualify for
the super sixes. But those two games are against the West Indies today and South Africa on Monday.
Ultimately, if the worst comes to the worst, under the rules of the competition it may boil down to the toss of a coin.