'We know their strengths and weaknesses' - SA bank on tri-series experience for SL challenge

For the first time this World Cup, South Africa will be playing in Colombo. While this is going to be a fairly significant change in conditions as far as batters are concerned with the pitches at the Khettarama having shown to be tougher to score on, South Africa are banking on the knowledge gained on their recent tour of Sri Lanka to help them manage.

"I think now we as a team, we kind of know the players, especially me as a bowler. I know there are ways to bowl, their strengths and their weaknesses," stated Nonkululeko Mlaba on the eve of their match against Sri Lanka. "So yeah, it was very important for me to actually read and to know the players."

Mlaba is likely going to play a crucial role if South Africa are to come away victorious, with the left-arm spinner having picked up eight wickets across the first four games of the tournament. With those wickets coming in India, she would have been forgiven for being excited by the prospect of bowling on the spin-friendly surfaces in Colombo, however she's happy to focus on keeping things simple. After Sri Lanka, South Africa will face Pakistan in Colombo on Monday, before moving to Indore to meet Australia.

"I think it's my second time playing here. Because we had a tri-series against Sri Lanka and India, and yeah, it's always good to come back here and hopefully this time around I'll just do well for the team.

"One thing that I normally do best is just sticking to my good lines and lengths, and the rest will take care of itself."

South Africa have faced some tough challenges already across this tournament, most notably in their heavy opening game loss to England. But even in their three wins, they have been forced to work hard for the results.

Against India and Bangladesh, it was a strong rearguard that saw home two tricky chases, while it was only against New Zealand where the win was relatively comfortable. Mlaba believes there are no easy games in this tournament

"I just feel like each and every team is very hard to play against because we played against Sri Lanka in a tri-series and also played against them at home, and they beat us in a few games.

"They definitely have a good team - the spinners, they're very good. And [Chamari] Athapaththu herself, she's quality. So as a team we don't underestimate any team, we just play our own game and try our best to win the game."

One running theme across South Africa's matches this tournament has been a tendency to allow teams back into the contest from a position of strength, most recently when Bangladesh fought back from 78 for 5 to post a total of 232. Mlaba, however, is not unduly concerned.

"That's obviously part of the game," she said. "You know we as a team, you start off well and then sometimes you just lack here and there, but then it's just a matter of trying to bring the team together and just try and focus and do well in that certain period.

"I've watched a lot of games and a lot of teams, they've also been going through the same as us. So, it's just part of the game, it's cricket."