Form guide not providing much of an idea in Pool B

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.