South Africa and Sri Lanka chase final berth

It's all to play for in Perth on Tuesday as South Africa and Sri Lanka battle it out in the VB Series, knowing that victory for either side would give increase their chances of reaching the best-of-three final against Australia.

Sri Lanka are a point ahead of South Africa in the standings but they have played two games more than Graeme Smith's side and the South Africans are 1/2 (1.50) with bet365 to clinch victory in the day-nighter on Tuesday.

While Australia have been a touch shaky for once, neither side has found quite enough consistency to match the hosts and Sri Lanka are 6/4 (2.50) to win it and keep their hopes alive.

South Africa have won 15 of their past 20 one-day internationals, while it's one win apiece in the two matches against Sri Lanka so far in this series. Overall, it's nip and tuck between the two, with 20 wins for Sri Lanka and 19 for South Africa.

Sri Lanka's overall form has not been good of late, with just seven wins in their past 20 games, but the return from injury of former captain Sanath Jasuriya appears to have galvannised them and they should not be automatically written off.

Who'll be the topscorers?
Herschelle Gibbs and his captain, Smith, are favourites to be South Africa's topscorer, at 4.1 (5.00). Boeta Dippenaar is 9/2 (5.50) while Jacques Rudolph is 5/1 (6.00), Justin Kemp is 13/2 (7.50) and Ashwell Prince is 15/2 (8.50).

For Sri Lanka, Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jasuriya are both 7/2 (4.50) while captain Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene are 9/2 (5.50). Tillekeratne Dislhan is 11/2 (6.50) and Upul Tharanga is next at 6/1 (7.00).

South Africa captain Smith has said that the opening partnerships on either side will be crucial in Perth, and his openiig pair are 4/6 (1.66) favourites to outscore Sri Lanka, who are 11/10 (2.10).