NZ put security concerns aside as they take on Lanka

Cricket was pushed into the background by security fears for the second time in a week today by the news that Tamil Tiger cadres had launched a pre-dawn attack on an Air Force base located just 30 km north of Colombo.

Practices continued without disruption, but the Sri Lankan cricket board chairman Vijaya Malalsekera called an emergency meeting with the team managers and the match referee Cammie Smith.

Both the Indian and New Zealand boards have accepted the board assurances that the players and officials are safe and stressed to the media that they "didn't believe cricket to be a target."

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, speaking after the team's training session at Premadasa International Stadium, said: "You are a little bit wary if you watch CNN. The reports coming out are a little alarming, but we feel very safe."

The Indian manager A.N.Mate said: "The board have promised to increase security at both the hotel and the ground and we are satisfied and have decided to play on."

The security fears are not the only concerns faced by the Kiwi's as they prepare for the exhausting prospect of two consecutive day games in the enervating heat of Colombo. Three of the players - Matthew Sinclair, Darryl Tuffey, and Dion Nash - are suffering from suspected food poisoning.

Sinclair was able to bat this morning in the nets, but Tuffey and Nash returned early to the hotel as a `precautionary' measure according to Fleming.

Fleming admitted that: "There is a little bit of concern as three of the guys have been carrying viruses over the past couple of days. The coming two days are going to be very tough. If some of the guys are not one hundred per cent then we may look at playing them in just one of those two games."

Fleming said they would make a final decision in the morning. If they do target one game, then this is likely to be the Indian one on Thursday. The Sri Lankans are almost through to the finals and another loss for the Indians would make their qualification very difficult and assure the Kiwi's a berth.

New Zealand have just returned from four days in the cooler climes of Kandy, a sacred city in the hill country. Ostensibly planned to prevent an outbreak of cabin fever in their Colombo hotel, Fleming said: "During the last four days we have had a chance to recharge the batteries - playing in this heat does take it out of you - and have had some good skills sessions."

The Kiwi's, though delighted with their victory against India, have pinpointed the last ten overs of the innings, when they fell away against India, as an area for improvement: " The individuals that were involved in that have had the onus put on them. We have discussed it as a squad in a very positive way and it's now out in the open.

"There are things to work on, but the first innings totals have been around the 220 mark and we weren't far away from posting the highest total of the tournament," he reasoned. "We are pretty close to getting it right."

With Sunday's pitch being re-used on Wednesday the same kind of total can be expected and the toss will once again be important.

Fleming admitted that they would like to bat first, but also said: "We would like to buck the trend of the team batting first going on to win the game if we get an opportunity to do so."

Sri Lanka meanwhile are expected to name an unchanged team and Jayasuriya was happy with the current batting order. Romesh Kaluwitharana, however, is likely to bat number three if an early wicket falls, as he was going to do against India until the introduction of spin.

Nevertheless, Jayasuriya remains frustrated by the performance of the middle order: "We have been addressing the issue of middle order failing right from the start. But nothing has worked. I am sure the boys will come out soon."

He singled out Kumar Dharmasena for special praise after his nerveless performance on Sunday night: "Right from the start I had lot of faith in Kumar: he's got the experience and he's a team man. I am very happy with his performance, his batting and bowling."