South Africa and Sri Lanka play the first match of a two-test series at Kingsmead in Durban on Wednesday. Both require wins to advance to the World Test Championship final. If South Africa win both tests and back-to-back home games against Pakistan during the festive season, they will qualify for the Lord’s final in June, but three wins from those four matches may be enough.

South Africa has played eight WTC matches, less than half of England’s 19, while Sri Lanka has played one more. It is astonishing that South Africa are still in contention after sending a second-string team to New Zealand this year owing to a SA20 conflict.

“There’s lots of excitement,” captain Temba Bavuma told reporters. “We discussed a final spot as a group while starting the WTC cycle.

After New Zealand, things got tough, but we always had an objective. We know expectations and pressure will rise.” A formidable and seasoned bowling attack has sustained South Africa recently, despite their shaky batting.

“We’ve been putting in some good performances, so from a confidence, belief point of view, it’s been good to see,” he remarked. “As a team, we’ll ride that for as long as it lives within us.”

Sri Lanka must win three of their four remaining tests—two in South Africa and two at home to Australia early next year—to reach the final. Kamindu Mendis has started his test career well, averaging 91.27 in 13 innings with five hundreds and four fifties. Different challenges await on South Africa’s faster, bouncier tracks.

Sri Lanka upset their hosts with a 2-0 series win in South Africa in 2019, however they lost both games on their 2020-21 visit. South Africa has won 13 of 17 home tests against Sri Lanka, losing three. Sri Lanka has won two and drawn one of three Durban matches and is unbeaten.