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| Sunday, 02 March 2003 |
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South Africa cup destiny riding on Sri Lanka clash in Durban DURBAN, March 1 (Reuters) - South Africa go into their final Group B match against Sri Lanka on Monday knowing they have to win to avoid the ignominy of a first-round exit from the World Cup. Under pressure from the start as the main tournament hosts, the South Africans made matters even worse for themselves by losing two of their first three matches, against West Indies and New Zealand. But, in a strange twist of fate, they now take on Sri Lanka in a day-night game at Kingsmead knowing that victory could well see them qualify in top spot from Group B, with 10 points to take through to the Super Sixes. South Africa have held an overwhelming upper hand over the Sri Lankans in limited-overs internationals, particularly at home. Sri Lanka have never won a one-day series in South Africa, and have lost nine of their last 11 matches on South African soil. On their most recent tour at the end of 2002, they went down 4-1. South Africa were strangely out of sorts in the third game of that series which they lost to Sri Lanka by seven wickets in Benoni. The Sri Lankans have an even worse record in Tests in South Africa, losing six out of seven matches while drawing the other after rain at Kingsmead. The Durban weather has again played its hand at this World Cup. Although local weather forecast expect clear skies and no rain for Monday, South Africa's practice was severely disrupted on Saturday morning by persistent rain, forcing them indoors. That meant no opportunity for the South Africans to face the left-arm seam of Western Province bowler Charl Willoughby, called up as a net bowler to help the side prepare for the threat posed by Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas. Vaas produced a man-of-the-match performance against West Indies on Friday when Sri Lanka gained a crucial victory at Newlands, taking four for 22 to lift his tournament tally to 16, his wickets coming at the remarkable average of 7.81. South Africa still face the dilemma of whether to risk their premier fast bowler of the last 10 years in such an important match. The 36-year-old Allan Donald has struggled for form in this tournament, failing to pick up a wicket in the 10 overs he bowled against the lightweight Canadian batting order. All rounder Andrew Hall and the raw pace of 20-year-old Monde Zondeki are the two most obvious alternative options for the South African selectors. Hall is a known quantity, a determined competitor and has competed against the best in the world, even completing the unusual feat of batting, bowling and wicketkeeping in the same match against Australia at the Colonial Stadium in August 2000. Zondeki would be a greater gamble, but is genuinely quick and a composed individual. He claimed the wicket of Sri Lankan batsman Marvan Atapattu with his first ball in international cricket in Bloemfontein last year. One name certain to be inked in South Africa's team sheet is that of Herschelle Gibbs. The extravagantly gifted opening batsman has been in superb form, including a lightning 143 in a losing cause against New Zealand at The Wanderers. How he handles the challenge of Vaas, who is rapidly becoming the player of the tournament, could well determine the match outcome. Another key factor is that the Durban clash is a day-nighter, with five of the six games so far played under lights at this World Cup won by the side batting first. South Africa's future at this tournament could well depend on the toss of a coin. |
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