South Africa vs. Sri Lanka: Date, Live Stream, TV Info for Cricket World Cup

Given the historic strength of South African cricket, it is quite extraordinary that they have never won a knockout match at a World Cup.

They have a chance to break their duck in the first quarter-final of the 2015 World Cup against Sri Lanka in Sydney on Wednesday, arguably the most intriguing of the last-eight matchups.

Both teams were sporadically brilliant during the group stages, but the Sri Lankans' excellent record in World Cups will surely make them confident of advancing against the often under-achieving Proteas.

Read on for a full preview of a fascinating clash, as well as scheduling, television and live streaming information.

Date: Wednesday, March 18

Time: 2:30 p.m. local, 3:30 a.m. GMT

TV Info: Sky Sports 2

Live Stream: Sky Go

Preview

Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Sri Lanka have made it to the final of the last two World Cups, and although not widely fancied ahead of 2015's tournament in Australia and New Zealand, they certainly have the personnel to repeat the trick this time around.

As if it were needed, Kumar Sangakkara has surely proven once and for all Down Under that he is the world's best ODI batsman, per cricket writer Peter Miller, scoring a World Cup-record four successive centuries in the group stages:

Continued excellence from Sangakkara will be needed if Sri Lanka are to turn over South Africa at the SCG; a bowling attack which includes Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir poses quite a threat.

Sri Lanka, however, have a dangerous bowling attack of their own, including paceman Lasith Malinga, whose form has been improving throughout the tournament.

There is huge experience in the Sri Lankan side, with the likes of Sangakkara, Malinga, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Nuwan Kulasekara all having appeared in 2011's final—which they lost to India.

Such experience will be vital in a match which will likely be decided by a few key moments.

South Africa have plenty of experience of their own, but they must ignore the oft meted out "chokers" label if they are to finally make good on their potential.

Widely tipped ahead of the tournament, the Proteas put in several brilliant performances in the group stages, but they did slip up in losing to both India and Pakistan.

AB de Villiers is undoubtedly the key man for South Africa; the skipper's ability with the bat is enough to take the game away from any side when he finds his best form, and he has been in decent nick so far in the tournament, per Opta:

The Proteas have had issues at the top of the order of late, with Quinton de Kock playing poorly and Hashim Amla surprisingly inconsistent.

If the opening pair can turn their form around and set up a decent base, the middle-order likes of De Villiers, David Miller and JP Duminy have more than enough ability to move their side on to a massive score.

In what is surely set to be a tight encounter, Sri Lanka hold the edge due to their immense experience and record as a brilliant tournament side, per BBC TMS' Jonathan Agnew:

South Africa do not have such a record, but they do have a very strong team, with De Villiers and Steyn potential match-winners with bat and ball respectively.

As an opener to the 2015 World Cup knockout stages, cricket fans could barely have wished for a more exciting prospect, and both teams should deliver on the Sydney stage.