South Africa, West Indies square up in crucial pool game

When they meet at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Friday, both the West Indies and South Africa will fancy their chances against each other. The second one-dayer of the ICC Champions Trophy is undoubtedly going to be a closely contested one, with both teams trying to put recent disappointments behind them and prepare for the upcoming World Cup.

The SSC has in the past favoured teams batting second, getting flatter and better as the game progresses. This will not go unnoticed by either camp, and the toss thus assumes crucial importance. But neither team will much be looking forward to the heat and energy-sapping humidity.

The Proteas have played only infrequently at the SSC, notably in the Singer Triangular Series in July 2000. They have a 1-1 record here, having lost to Sri Lanka once and then winning the next game against Pakistan, when David Terbrugge returned fine figures of 8-1-20-4.

But the presence of Allan Donald will undoubtedly boost South Africa's morale, and Shaun Pollock will be looking to his most experienced paceman to give him the important breakthroughs. Donald cut his chin during practice, but he is a definite starter, especially as the winner of this tie will - with Kenya being the third team of the pool - virtually be assured of a semi-final berth.

Opening bat Gary Kirsten, dropped on poor form, is likely to be missed, but Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs proved their credentials at the top of the order in the triangular series at Morocco. Gibbs scored a whirlwind 102 against New Zealand in a recent warm-up game, and the quicksilver Jonty Rhodes, hard-hitting Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher and Pollock ensure that South Africa bat well down the order.

The West Indies' performances of late, especially in the home series against India, have been better than their record over the last few years, and skipper Carl Hooper has been able to motivate the team well. Pollock iterated that South Africa could not afford to take the West Indies lightly. "They've got the star players in Lara, Chanderpaul and Hooper, but we've done well against them in the past," said Pollock. "We won't be complacent though. We'll make sure we're prepared."

The West Indies too have played just the two matches at the SSC ground, winning against Sri Lanka in a rain-shortened game and losing to Zimbabwe in the second. They will once again look to their master batsman Brian Lara to score heavily. Lara was in brilliant form when he last played in Sri Lanka, before a bizarre accident in the field left him with an injured elbow.

In their warm-up game against Australia, all the top West Indies batsmen except Lara were among the runs. Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and the highly gifted Ramnaresh Sarwan showed signs of form. The West Indian bowling will revolve around the experienced Mervyn Dillon, while Mahendra Nagamootoo may get to play a key role with his leg-spin.

West Indies: Carl Hooper (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brian Lara, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hinds, Wavell Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Runako Morton, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Ramnaresh Sarwan

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (captain), Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Justin Ontong, Boeta Dippenaar, Jonty Rhodes, Dale Benkenstein, Nicky Boje, Alan Dawson, Allan Donald, Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini, Lance Klusener