 |  |
Sports Reporter
OUT of the 19 matches contested at the 2019 Cricket World Cup four have been called off or abandoned in the rain-hit tournament and the Sri Lankans are the only team to have suffered this misfortune twice.
Their last two matches against Asian rivals Pakistan and Bangladesh were both complete washouts in Bristol, meaning Sri Lanka have not faced any competitive action for 11 days.
The lack of play time in the tournament did not give the Sri Lankans the preparation the desperately need to take on the defending world champions, Australia at The Oval.
South Africa and Afghanistan, both winless so far in the tournament, will be eagerly looking for a victory when they take on each other in the second encounter for the day in Cardiff.
The two bottom-placed teams know that this will be their best chance to post their first win in the ongoing 50-over showpiece that has already seen several tournament records broken.
