It's make or break for India (28 August 1999)

28 August 1999

It's make or break for India

The Daily Star

Colombo, Aug 27: India will face a Himalayan task when they meet Australia Saturday in a crucial match in the Aiwa Cup tournament.

Australia have won all three of their matches so far - two against Sri Lanka and one against India - and have six points while India have none and Sri Lanka is set with two after beating India.

India's skipper Sachin Tendulkar will have to keep a calculator in his pocket Saturday as the net run rate would be more important in their match against Australia to qualify for the finals over Sri Lanka.

On Friday, Tendulkar and his men were at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground where Saturday's match will be played. For Tendulkar what will be more important than Saturday's game will the one of the day after.

India will have to beat Sri Lanka on Sunday to get through to the final.

"It is a big game tomorrow," Tendulkar said. "It will give us a big boost to win tomorrow's match before meeting the Sri Lankans on Sunday. We will have to bat better than we have done in the previous two matches."

World champions Australia go on to play Saturday with tremendous confidence. "We enjoy it out here," said Australian skipper Steve Waugh. "We have been playing good cricket and whenever we play well we enjoy ourselves."

Both teams have put off naming their teams till Saturday.

Source :: The Daily Star