SA must keep momentum going

2006-01-29 21:36

Christo Buchner

Perth - The South African cricket team must keep the momentum going after beating Sri Lanka in the triangular one-day series in Australia.

The win in Adelaide was to close for comfort and would not have given the Proteas a major boost of confidence. But a win is a win and they must do the same at the Waca on Tuesday.

The South Africans, with eight points after four matches, to Sri Lanka's nine after six and Australia's 18 after six are at the bottom of the log and need to record a convincing win over Sri Lanka.

It will be another learning curve for the young South African team. Pressure is mounting in the series and the players are confronted in every match with the reality that a defeat will make it much more difficult to qualify for the final.

Boeta Dippenaar has been the hero with the bat in this series, but it is now time for captain Graeme Smith, Ashwell Prince and Jacques Rudolph to make a contribution to give body to the innings.

Herschelle Gibbs has shown in his last innings that he is returning to his best form and hopefully his groin injury will have improved to such an extent that he can play on Tuesday.

It will be essential to score enough runs so that the total can be defended, especially because of the inexperienced bowlers.

Star batsmen like Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene have the individual brilliance to win matches for Sri Lanka.

Play a bigger role

If Gibbs can play, the victorious Adelaide team will again do battle with Sri Lanka.

The all-rounders, Andrew Hall and Shaun Pollock, should also play a bigger role higher up in the batting order. Both of them can fill the role as pinch-hitter.

Pollock, Hall and Charl Langeveldt must put pressure on Sri Lanka and ensure there is not a flood of runs from their batsmen.

Johan van der Wath who will be playing in only his third match will have to continue with his good performance with the ball. South Africa must hold thumbs that Smith wins the toss so that the super sub and off-spinner Johan Botha can join the attack.

If not, the part-time spinners - Smith, Rudolph and Prince - will have to operate as the fifth bowler.

The teams are:

South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (c), Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Justin Kemp, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Johan van der Wath, Charl Langeveldt, Johan Botha, Dale Steyn, Garnett Kruger, Monde Zondeki.

Sri Lanka (from): Sanath Jayasuriya, Jehan Mubarak, Upal Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Marvan Atapattu (c), Tillekaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Kulasekera, Muttiah Muralitharan, Rushera Perera, Malinga Bandara.

- Beeld