Lankans wary of South African backlash

Sri Lanka were wary of a South African backlash after Shaun Pollock warned that his team knew what to do in Wednesday's final of the Morocco Cup.

"South Africa are a dangerous side and capable of bouncing back. All we need to do is to keep the winning momentum going and give minimum opportunities to them," skipper Sanath Jayasuriya said.

Pollock didn't elaborate measures required but said that he had identified ways how to peg them down. "The basics are not to lose too many wickets in the first 15 overs and keep Aravinda de Silva in check."

De Silva has scored 157 runs in four matches but most importantly struck match-winning 73 and 77 not out against South Africa that earned him the Man-of-the-Match awards.

Sri Lanka, who began with a defeat against Pakistan, won all their remaining three games, including successive victories against South Africa. Nonetheless, Sri Lanka have recently made it a habit of throwing their hard work out of the window in the title match. In April in Sharjah, they twice defeated Pakistan but lost a lopsided final.

"Hopefully, we will change things around this time. The conditions are different as compared to Sharjah where it is easier to bowl in the evenings when the floodlights are on," Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore remarked.

Sri Lanka will go into the match full of confidence after all their players are in form and on a roll. It has been a pleasing change after a disastrous tour to England where they failed to reach the final of the tri-nation series won by India.

It would not be unfair to say that tomorrow's final will be between two teams that touched rock bottom earlier this year. If Sri Lanka were hammered in England, South Africa found themselves under the whip in their backyard against Australia where they badly lost the one-day and Test series. This match will also provide the two powerhouses of international cricket a platform to judge their strength and weaknesses for September's ICC Champions Trophy - the buildup for next year's World Cup.

Jayasuriya was happy with his form as he has been instrumental is providing the 1996 world champions a flying start. But he said he needed to get big scores.

"The form is good but in big matches, you need to convert good starts into big scores. In that respect, I am not happy because I am getting out in 40s," he said.

The final will be played on the surface on which the two teams locked horns Monday with Sri Lanka becoming the first team to win the match while chasing the target.

Teams (from):

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardena, Russel Arnold, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Charita Bhuddika Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Chamila Gamage, Hasantha Fernando, Pulasathi Gunaratne.

South Africa: Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar, Jonty Rhodes, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock (captain), Lance Klusener, Allan Donald, Justin Ontong, Roger Telemachus, Makhaya Ntini, Paul Adams.