The Proteas lost the toss and will bat first in the second T20I at Centurion. KHALID MOHIDIN reports. 

With skipper Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi all rested for the final two T20Is of the three-match series, it offers the opportunity for the Proteas’ fringe players to step fully into the spotlight.

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Stand-in skipper JP Duminy announced at the toss that Sinethemba Qeshile and Aiden Markram will receive their T20I debuts, while there were returns for Chris Morris, Dwaine Pretorius and Tabraiz Shamsi after the first T20I.

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Markram joins Reeza Hendricks at the top of the order, and losing the toss is the perfect opportunity for the brains trust to analyse these two players who will be competing for a ticket to England.

This is also another opportunity for David Miller to show that he can bat up the order, as well as Rassie van der Dussen, who can prove that he can play a senior role in the side despite his inexperience in international cricket.

Sri Lanka have selected the same XI from the super-over thriller at Newlands.

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Proteas XI

1) Aiden Markram
2) Reeza Hendricks
3) Rassie van der Dussen (c)
4) David Miller
5) JP Duminy
6) Chris Morris
7) Dwaine Pretorius
8) Sinethemba Qeshile
9) Dale Steyn
10) Lutho Sipamla
11) Tabraiz Shamsi

Sri Lanka XI:

1) Niroshan Dickwella
2) Avishka Fernando
3) Kusal Mendis (wk)
4) Angelo Perera
5) Dhananjaya de Silva
6) Thisara Perera
7) Jefferey Vandersay
8) Lasith Malinga (c)
9) Akila Dananjaya
10) Kamindu Mendis
11) Isuru Udana

Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images