da betcris： So cruel for South Africa…yet so sweet for Sri Lanka
Charlie Austin04-Mar-2003So cruel for South Africa…yet so sweet for Sri Lanka.The intense and recently acrimonious rivalry between the two sides meantthat Sri Lanka shed no tears for the hosts last night.© ReutersOn the contrary, the team celebrated the amazing Duckworth-Lewis affectedtie long into the morning, delighted to have proved the doomsayers who hadpredicted a first round exit wrong.South Africa’s unexpected early exit was the perfect result for SanathJayasuriya’s side, allowing them to carry through four extra points throughto the next round.Boje wasn’t able to get out there and give them the piece of paper to keep,but the message that was portrayed was 229. But you can’t look at that andworry about that. He (Boucher) didn’t know the game was going to finishafter that ball.”
Shaun PollockMoreover, the Proteas’ elimination means removes the threat of a latersemi-final or final clash against one of their most feared opponents.If West Indies defeat Kenya today then Sri Lanka will top Pool B and faceAustralia in their first Super Six match at Centurion.The venue, with its sub-continental type pitch, offers Sri Lanka their bestpossible chance of overcoming Ricky Ponting’s apparently invincible side.They will then travel to Wanderers for a high-octane clash with their Asianneighbours India, a match that offers the mouthwatering prospect of asurprisingly rare Murali-Sachin duel.The final match will be played at East London against England, Zimbabwe orPakistan.© ReutersHad it not been for their slip up against Kenya, Sri Lanka would havequalified with a near full hand of points – that result could still costthem a semi-final place.Nevertheless, with the 7.5 points they did accrue, they are stillwell-placed to qualify for the final stages.However, they are still grave problems within the side, the most alarming ofwhich is the wretched form of middle order batsman Mahela Jayawardene.Jayawardene’s wild charge down the wicket last afternoon smacked ofdesperation.But the line between success and failure is so fine: one shot can make thedifference and had he picked up a boundary then perhaps the shackles wouldhave been broken.Jayawardene is a fine player, a potential match winner, simply lacking inconfidence.His barren run has not as long as is being suggested by some: he played wellin South Africa at the end of the last year and also contributed inAustralia during the early matches.© ReutersThe quality of the replacements in the 15-man squad is such that he must bepersevered with: an inform Jayawardene greatly increases Sri Lanka’s chancesof World Cup glory.The poor form of Dilhara Fernando with the ball is also a major worry.Sri Lanka’s quickest pace bowler has partially overcome a chronic no ballproblem but he is no longer attacking the crease with the same confidenceand the result is poor control.Once again, his match winning capacity is such that he will surely beretained. However, he needs to pull his game together quickly or face beingslaughtered by the Aussies.Fortunately, the part-time spin of Aravinda de Silva, Jayasuriya and RusselArnold is playing a far greater role than had been hitherto beenanticipated, covering for shortcomings elsewhere.”We knew that, after the 35th over, we were in the Super Six but we wantedto win that game. Unfortunately the rain came. We wanted Marvan and Aravindato get some runs and Marvan especially. He batted through the innings andgot a hundred. I think Aravinda gave him full support and it was nice to seehim getting runs. All in all, the boys played really well.”
SanathJayasuriyaThat, in part, is because the pitches are dry after a hot summer but alsoreflects the fact that a good spinner is better than an average fast bowlerin all but the most seamer-friendly conditions.On Friday the spinners will once again come to the fore with Murali lockinghorns with a brilliant batting line-up for the first time since he nearlybowled Sri Lanka into the VB Series final.Ideally, he will bowl with plenty of runs on the board, the responsibilityfor which falls on the shoulders of Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu, whobatted so gloriously yesterday.De Silva’s good form allows greater confidence in the middle order but theopeners are the key to Sri Lanka’ success: a fact that the Aussies will beonly too aware off.