South Africa, Sri Lanka get first taste of spanking new stadium
… Guyana’s leg of the Super Eight battle bowls off
By Vemen Walter
Guyana Chronicle
March 28, 2007
THE spanking brand new Guyana National Stadium, located at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara, will have its first taste of International Cricket today when heavyweights South Africa take on Sri Lanka in a crucial World Cup Super Eight fixture.
With the inclement weather threatening over the past couple of days, cricket fans, both local and foreign will be hoping that the rain stays away to allow what is anticipated to be a thrilling battle.
Two of the pre-tournament favourites, both South Africa and Sri Lanka suffered setbacks in their preparation leading up to this game, as their respective net sessions, scheduled for the Everest Cricket Club ground last Monday, were rained out but were both expected to have some nets yesterday at Providence.
Having met thrice before in World Cup cricket, the teams have had the better of each other once, with their 2003 match-up in Durban, South Africa, ending in a tie.
Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions certainly possess the necessary capabilities to achieve another World Cup triumph as was clearly exhibited in the group stages, when they trounced all of their opponents comfortably, including the much-touted Indians.
But how the new stadium pitch will play over the 100 overs is still unknown and Sri Lanka’s coach Tom Moody said yesterday, “It looks a good surface and the outfield looks good considering the weather they’ve had,”
He said there wasn’t a huge amount of grass on the square which is what you tend to get in Colombo. There’s moisture in the surface, but there doesn’t seem to be a huge amount of pace in it,” Moody said.
Coming into the Super Eight with two bonus points, following their success over fellow Group ‘B’ qualifiers Bangladesh, Sri Lanka’s top order batsmen have all been in good nick.
Dangerous opener Sanath Jayasuriya has already notched up a century while Chamara Silva with three consecutive fifties together Kumar Sangakkara, skipper Mahela Jayawardene and Upul Tharanga have all had significant scores in the tournament so far.
Not just Sri Lanka’s batting could be sensational but also their potent bowling attack. Pacer Chaminda Vaas and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan are not only very experienced but are match-winners.
Pacemen Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando are also key components in the sub-continent team’s bowling.
South Africa with a win ratio of 63.33 % compared to Sri Lanka’s 37.77 in World Cup matches reached the semi-final in 1992, their first tournament after readmission into the ICC and repeated same in 1999 when a tie against Australia was not enough for them to advance into the final.
Australia gained the nod by virtue of a superior net run rate in the Super Six.
Boasting a line-up that comprises several world class players, the South Africans will want to put their 83-run defeat at the hands of Australia in their final Group ‘A’ match a few days ago behind them.
Captain Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs and Mark Boucher have the ability to destroy any bowling attack in the world as they have proved on numerous occasions and no doubt the Sri Lankans could be in for a tough assignment.
However, it would be quite interesting to see what the Providence track has to offer, since not much cricket was played at the venue specially built for this mega event.
Smith in particular has been in ominous form, rattling up three half-centuries while AB de Villiers has two and Boucher and Gibbs one each.
Kallis has also got an unbeaten 128 versus the Netherlands.
Fast bowler Makhaya Ntini, always determined, alongside Shaun Pollock, Charl Langevelgt, Kallis, Justin Kempt and Andrew Hall forms a menacing attack with the ball.
The action is expected to start 09:30 h with the on-field umpires being Steve Bucknor and Daryl Harper. Mark Benson and Simon Taufel are the third and fourth umpires respectively with Jeff Crowe as the match referee.
Teams: South Africa - Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis, Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andre Hall, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince and Roger Telemachus.
Sri Lanka – Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Russel Arnold, Marvin Atapattu, Malinga Bandara, Tillekeratne Dilchand, Dilhara Fernando, Sanath Jayasuriya, Nuwan Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga and Chaminda Vass.