September 29 Sunday 2002
India, Sri Lanka look to outwit each other in today's final

COLOMBO: India will aim to upstage hosts Sri Lanka in their own backyard in the ICC Champions Trophy final on Sunday (today) which will produce a first-time winner. Sourav Ganguly's side is hopeful its formidable batting line-up can take on Sri Lanka's varied slow bowling led by their consistent match-winner off-break bowler Muttiah 
Muralitharan. India, who've reached their second consecutive final of the event ranked only behind the World Cup, are keen not to slip-up after losing to New Zealand in the 2000 Nairobi edition.

India and Sri Lanka claimed contrasting semifinal victories over South Africa and world champions Australia, respectively. The hosts crushed Australia by seven wickets with 10 overs to spare on Friday after India escaped defeat to pip South Africa by 10 runs on Wednesday. The Australian batsmen had failed to come to terms with a slow, spin-friendly pitch after losing early wickets to spin. But the Indian batsmen are confident in familiar sub-continent conditions despite the home side's superb record at the venue. Sri Lanka have won 75 per cent of their matches at the R Premadasa Stadium, claiming 33 of their 46 games including a 10-4 win-loss record over India.

Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya has said his side had the edge because its batting was as strong as India's but the bowling superior. However, Ganguly argued: "I don't agree with Jayasuriya. The bowling may be the same, but the batting is definitely not. We have scored runs in all conditions. That's important." His argument was mainly based on 
India's domination of Sri Lanka, winning all three of their encounters on their way to claiming a one-day triangular tournament in England in July. But Ganguly suggested that a turner of a pitch had been prepared to undo Australia and India would get to play on a firmer surface. He confirmed that veteran paceman Javagal Srinath, flown in to eplace injured left-arm Ashish Nehra, was expected to play.

Sri Lanka will be confident of claiming their first major title since the 1996 World Cup sparked a hysteria in this tiny island nation. A victory will also help them atone for their abysmal showing in the 1999 World Cup in England where they failed to qualify from the league stage to face severe criticism at home.

The hosts have shown good recent form by beating Pakistan and South Africa to win a one-day tournament in Morocco and have dominated the opposition in all three of their victories in this event.

Sri Lanka's batsmen will also fancy their chances against leg-spinner Anil Kumble and off-break bowler Harbhajan Singh, who have struggled to find their rhythm.

India (likely): Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Venkat Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath.

Sri Lanka (from): Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumara Dharmasena, Pulasthi Gunaratne, Dilhara Fernando, Upul Chandana.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor & David Shepherd. TV umpire: Daryl Harper. ICC match referee: Clive Lloyd.