August 21  
Sri Lanka expect South African sting in final 

TANGIERS: South Africa's Paul Adams, a left-arm chinaman bowler, watches the ball as he bowls against Sri Lanka during The Morocco Cup match at Tangiers Cricket Stadium on August 19, 2002. Adams' bowling action has been described as looking like 'a frog in a blender'

TANGIERS: In-form Sri Lanka are wary of a South African backlash when they clash in the Morocco Cup limited-overs final here on Wednesday.  The Sri Lankans start as overwhelming favourites after two impressive wins over the Proteas in the league - the first by a whopping 93 runs and the second by six wickets.  But captain Sanath Jayasuriya refused to take the 120,000-dollar winner's purse for granted, warning team-mates that Shaun Pollock's men will be a different proposition in the final.

"I expect them to come out fighting," Jayasuriya said. 

"The South Africans will not be beaten easily again." Sri Lanka know that tables can turn quickly in the unpredictable world of one-day cricket. 

At the Sharjah Cup in April, the Sri Lankans breezed through the league stage only to find their batting flounder under lights against Pakistan in the final. 

Five of the six league matches in Tangiers were won by teams batting first, but Sri Lanka's Australian coach Dave Whatmore said conditions were better here than at Sharjah. 

"At Sharjah it is always difficult chasing under lights, not here where batsmen get an equal chance," he said. 
"There is no reason why we should not win if we play as well as we have done in the tournament so far." 

It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Sri Lankans after a disastrous tour of England earlier in the summer where they lost both the Test and one-day series. 

Recalled veteran Aravinda De Silva has been the biggest thorn in South Africa's side, making 73 and 77 in the two matches without being dismissed. 

With Jayasuriya himself leading from the front with scores of 36, 49, 97 and 47 in the tournament, the South African bowlers face a testing time in the final. 

"Sri Lanka outplayed us in the two matches, but we know what we have to do to come back," Pollock said. "If we play to our potential on Wednesday, a win is not far away." 

Key all-rounder Jacques Kallis is expected to take the field after recovering from a niggle in the left leg which prevented him from bowling against Sri Lanka on Monday. 

Kallis' 84 in the same match will come as a relief for coach Eric Simons after the inconsistent display so far by the top order batsmen. 

Herschelle Gibbs, who scored 114 against Pakistan in the opening match, managed just 12 runs in the next three innings. 

Seasoned Gary Kirsten has looked out of touch despite making 55 in the first encounter against Sri Lanka. 

While Sri Lanka are certain to play three spinners in Muttiah Muralitharan, Upul Chandana and Jayasuriya, the South Africans are undecided on playing a second slow bowler. 

Pollock also dismissed suggestions that big-hitter Lance Klusener should be moved up the order after three unbeaten scores of 32, 28 and 39 batting at number seven or eight. 

"Lance has been a good finisher for us," Pollock said. 

"I think he is better off coming lower and leave the start to the regulars." 

South Africa (from): Shaun Pollock (capt), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Boeta Dippenaar, Lance Klusener, Justin Ontong, Graeme Smith, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Paul Adams, Allan Donald, Roger Telemachus, Makhaya Ntini. 

Sri Lanka (likely): Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, Aravinda De Silva, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Upul Chandana, Pulasthi Gunaratne.