Lanka pray for miracle

SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 29: Defending champions Sri Lanka sat down in front of their television sets on Saturday waving the flag of Saint George...

SOUTHAMPTON, MAY 29: Defending champions Sri Lanka sat down in front of their television sets on Saturday waving the flag of Saint George and praying for a World Cup miracle.

A crushing England win over India at Edgbaston would offer them a most slender of lifelines which could 8212; just 8212; keep them in the tournament.

Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga has already conceded, however, that his team has booked its tickets home after heavy first-round defeats to South Africa, England and India. But if closest rivals India lose their final Group A match to England, and unbeaten South Africa, as expected, beat Zimbabwe, then Sri Lanka could, by beating Kenya on Sunday, join a three-way tie for third on four points behind South Africa and England.

The third qualifier 8212; India, Sri Lanka or Zimbabwe 8212; would then be decided on net run rate 8212; a team8217;s runs scored per over divided by its runs conceded.

Sri Lanka8217;s rate, however, is currently lower than that of its rivals, particularly India8217;s, meaning that they wouldstill have to win their last game by a massive margin to have any chance.

Sri Lanka8217;s side, however, has failed to come to terms with English conditions at this tournament. The side faces a major shake-up, with veterans Ranatunga and de Silva first in the firing line.

Sri Lanka V Kenya

P SLw Kw Abd

Overall 2 2 0 8211;

In WC 1 1 0 8211;

In last 10 matches

W L T/A

SL 3 7 8211;

KEN 2 8 8211;

Players to watch

Sri Lanka

The Whole Team

To see if any of them can perform at last. Seniors Like Ranatunga, Aravinda and Jayasuriya will be under pressure. The game may be pointl ess; by then SL may already be out of the Cup.

Kenya

Steve Tiikolo

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Kenya8217;s best batsman could thwart the Sri Lankans with a Repeat of his 1996 innings. He scored 71 against England and 58 against India in thi s tournament.

Southapmton: The home of county team Hampshire, it was opened in 1885. ThE World Cup is the last major events tobe staged at the ground before Hampshire mo ve to a new purpose-built stadium in 2001. Capacity: 4,600

Good memories: The two teams played just once in the World Cup, at Kandy in 1996, when Sri Lanka piled up a world record one-day total of 398 for five. Aravinda De Sil va hit 145 off 115 balls with 14 boundaries and five sixes. Asanka Gurusinha hit 84 and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga an unbeaten 75 off 40 balls. Kenya replied with 254 for or seven to lose by 144 runs, despite 96 from Steve Tikolo.