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| Wednesday, 25 August 2004 |
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Crunch time for Proteas as Lanka look to seal series Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from Dambulla DAMBULLA, Tuesday - Graeme Smith needn't despair that his team is struggling to win under Sri Lankan conditions. His predecesors have fared only marginally better. Smith's team is trailing Sri Lanka 0-2 in the current series and is in danger of being whitewashed 5-0 unless they can turn their fortunes around soon. But Smith can take comfort from the fact that out of eight one-day internationals South Africa has played in Sri Lanka they have only one solitary win against six losses. One game ended in a no-result due to bad weather. The win was achieved as far back as 1993 on South Africa's maiden tour to this country under Kepler Wessels. None of the men who represented South Africa then are playing today. Following a rain-ruined game in Kandy, South Africa scored a 124-run win at the R. Premadasa Stadium. But Sri Lanka hit back two days later winning the third match by 44 runs to draw the series. On their next tour to Sri Lanka seven years later under Shaun Pollock, South Africa lost all three matches including the final to Sri Lanka in the Singer Triangular series, which also featured Pakistan. Not only are they desperate for a victory at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium - venue of the third one-day international here tomorrow (under lights) to keep the series alive, but South Africa is also faced with selection dilemma over the form of their prolific opener Herschelle Gibbs. Smith admitted that Gibbs was a world-class player and he is a batsman who could win a match for you in 30 overs. But since his return to the side from an ankle injury, Gibbs' contribution with the bat has been 0 & 4, 0, 7 - figures, which would worry any captain. South Africa was to take the hard decision of whether to drop Gibbs or to give him just one more chance at the team meeting last night. Martin van Jaarsveld was the other option left for them lest they decide to leave Gibbs out. South Africa is not looking to make too many changes to their side because according to Smith they are playing bad cricket. "Deep down inside I know what we can do. We have to start performing to our standards. Sri Lanka are on a high we got to get ourselves out of this hole and turn the momentum around," Smith said. "Everybody is performing in turns which is the important thing. The team is having a terrific time. But we have got to guard against complacency," said Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu who only needs a win here tomorrow to secure the series. "Cricket is only a game and you won't win everyday. But as long as you are giving everything that you have I think the winning streak can be lengthened. As long as we are doing the basic things right and as long as we are playing together and all pulling to one side I think we will do good," he said. Atapattu's record as one-day captain since May last year is quite an impressive one with 16 wins and seven losses from 23 matches. Overall Sri Lanka has won 12 of their last 13 one-day internationals since beating Australia by three wickets at the SSC on Feb 29. Their only blemish was the four-run loss to India in an Asia Cup qualifying round match. Knowing how seamer friendly the pitches here are Sri Lanka may opt for all-rounder Farveez Maharoof who bowled well against India here in the Asia Cup match taking the all important wicket of Mohammad Kaif at a crucial stage of the game. He conceded 46 runs off 10 overs. They might even look at Lasith Malinga for that extra pace, but Maharoof provides a better option because he can bat as well. South Africa playing at Dambulla for the first time may find the pitch to their liking as their bowling is more pace and seam oriented than spin. The last one-day international played here last month produced a heap of runs 552 off 100 overs with Sri Lanka rattling up the highest total made on this ground - 282-4. The teams: SRI LANKA (from): Marvan Atapattu (captain), Avishka Gunawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Nuwan Zoysa, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath. SOUTH AFRICA (from): Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Jacques Rudolph, Jean-Paul Duminy, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Nitini, Alan Dawson, Martin van Jarsveld. UMPIRES: Tyronne Wijewardene (Sri Lanka) and Billy Bowden (New Zealand), TV umpire: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka), Match Referee: Clive Lloyd (West Indies). |
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