Return
to Story Page
To print: Select File and then Print from your
browser's menu
Kuldip Lal
WORCESTER, May 21: Reigning World Cup champions Sri Lanka have nothing more than history to inspire them when they take on buoyant Zimbabwe in their make-or-break match here on Saturday. Arjuna Ranatunga's beleaguered team must win to stay in contention for the Super Six second round after losing their first two matches.
It's a task made difficult by their wretched form -- 16 defeats in the last 20 matches -- and Zimbabwe's growing confidence after beating Kenya and India.
A win for Zimbabwe will also see them survive the preliminary round in a World Cup for the first time in their history. Zimbabwe had won just three of their 25 World Cup matches before this tournament but came to England believing they were contenders for the first time after putting together was they believe is their strongest side ever.
Alistair Campbell's men overcame poor fielding against Kenya to win comfortablyby five wickets. They then held their nerve in a tense finish to overcome India by three runs on Wednesday as pacemanHenry Olonga grabbed the last three wickets in one over.
Sri Lanka's biggest worry is the form of 1996 World Cup hero Aravinda de Silva, who has lasted just 12 balls in the two matches so far, scoring just a single.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
------------------------------------------------------------