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Ranjan Anandappa reporting from South Africa

Deputy Skipper Marvan Atapattu who led Sri Lanka in the Second Test against South Africa which ended in a tense 3 wicket win for the home team expressed confidence in the one day series saying that South Africa are far from unbeatable in the five one day international cricket series which begins at Wanderers Park on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka beat South Africa in all three one dayers twice in the group stage and thereafter in the final during the Morocco Cup in Tangiers and went to share the ICC Cup with India after a rain washed out final in Colombo.

"South Africa is not a unbeatable side", said Atapattu. He rated the Second Test as one of the best Tests he had ever played in". No one is invincible in world cricket. We performed well and just missed out on victory in the Second Test, which will give us a lot of confidence prior to the one day series", he said.

The heartening news is that skipper Sanath Jayasuriya who injured his ankle while practising before the Second Test is recovering fast and should be fully fit and ready for the one dayers. Coach Dav Whatmore pointed out that his side was beaten 5-1 the last time they met in South Africa, and in view of the World Cup to be held in South Africa in February he would experiment with a number of players in their squad.

Sri Lanka lost both Tests against South Africa in the two match series but the former World Champions are a completely different side when it comes to the shorter version of the game. With the inclusion of experienced Aravinda de Silva and the tour management retaining Hashan Tillekeratne for the one day series after a bold batting display in the first test which Sri Lanka lost badly it should add more vigour to the middle order batting.

Meanwhile wicket keeper Kumar Sangakkara will be a marked man and probably could be heading the South African hit list after being engaged in a verbal confrontation with Shaun Pollock and other South African batsmen in Tuesday's tense match. Sri Lanka are due to play a practice one day game against South Africa "A" on Saturday at Prochefstroom.

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