All or nothing for Proteas

2006-02-05 21:32

Christo Buchner

Sydney - It is now all or nothing for the Proteas as they will only have one more chance to qualify for the final of the triangular series.

Australia defeated South Africa by 57 runs at the SCG on Sunday and now Graeme Smith's team must win their last group match against Sri Lanka in Hobart on Tuesday to qualify for the final.

Smith said there was a possibility that South Africa's most experienced bowler, Shaun Pollock, could miss the ODI on Tuesday.

He could not play on Sunday because of an ankle and heel injury, and his absence made it easier for the Aussies to hit South Africa's bowling attack to tatters.

The Aussies recorded their highest score of 344-6 against South Africa, who answered with 287-6.

Smith said: "It was very hard work on the field. Our bowling attack is still very inexperienced and it showed. We must just stick to basics in Hobart and hope we can limit their runs."

Smith added that the young bowlers in the South African attack had not played against an Adam Gilchrist at his best who scored his 88 off just 66 balls.

He is also well aware what Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka can do with a bat.

"We must get him out early, otherwise we will face problems.

"Maybe it will be necessary to rest a batsman to have an additional bowler to give us more options."

South Africa now have 12 league points and Sri Lanka 9, meaning a victory will be enough for Sri Lanka to qualify for the final.

Give 100 percent to reach the final

Smith gave the assurance that his team would put up a fight and not think of the possibility of returning home a few days earlier than planned to await the arrival of Australia.

"This is not how we play cricket. We're here to reach the final and we'll give everything we have. We're not going to throw in the towel. I expect every player to give 100 percent."

He acknowledged that there was a lack of depth in the quality of South African fast bowlers.

"Unfortunatly there are not enough quality players to take over from our injured top bowlers. The players who replaced them are still too inexperienced in the international arena and that cost us dearly."

The South Africans are so desperate that it could happen that Pollock is used as super sub just to bowl a few overs and then bat.

The Aussie captain, Ricky Ponting, said it had been easy for Gilchrist and his batting partners to exploit the lack of experience of South Africa's bowlers.

"We have all the momentum going for us and we want to keep it going into the final. I believe we now have a significant psychological advantage over the South Africans. Things could change in the series in South Africa when the injured players return."

Gilchrist said it had been one of those days when everything worked: "Early on in my innings I found the gaps and scored boundaries quite freely. I just continued playing those shots."

- Beeld