Pressure on the developing nations

Sri Lanka and the Netherlands face off at Hagley Oval tomorrow in what has become one of the key games of the CricInfo Women's World Cup.

The 12th-day, fifth-round match will have no bearing on the top of the table but is crucial in deciding the complete line-up for the next World Cup. The first six in the Christchurch tournament are guaranteed a start; the last two will face a playoff with other International Women's Cricket Council teams for the remaining places.

Sri Lanka, by virtue of their win over Ireland, are holding that number six spot. A win to the Asian team tomorrow would put the issue beyond doubt - unless the Netherlands or Ireland produce shocks of major earthquake proportions against teams supposedly firmly established at the top of the table.

So this is a must-win match for the Netherlands - who would also be doing Ireland a favour if they pegged Sri Lanka back. Their chances have been boosted by the probable return of at least one of their injured top-order batsmen, Maartje Koster. That the Netherlands are suffering from their injury woes is evident in their run-rate equation placing them a long way last on the points table.

The Netherlands do have to rise above the distraction of having one of their players, Caroline Salomons, among the three - Erin McDonald (NZ) and Renu Margrate (India) are the others - recommended by the umpires to have their bowling actions scrutinised.

However, they bring to the match a never-say-die attitude that the South Africans discovered almost to their cost. In fact, the respective matches against the Africans offered a guide to the possible outcome tomorrow. While the Dutch fought to the end despite being in an impossible position, the Sri Lankans folded under pressure, turning the run out into an ugly art form.

Sri Lanka cannot afford to drop this one; the Netherlands must win it. The result is likely to rest on the team that want it most.