Rain could spell curtians again

COLOMBO, June 30: India are all set to enter the final of the rain-marred Independence Cup cricket tri-series as their encounter tomorrow ag...

COLOMBO, June 30: India are all set to enter the final of the rain-marred Independence Cup cricket tri-series as their encounter tomorrow against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Cricket Ground looks a non-starter due to intermittent monsoon showers lashing the capital and its suburbs since last night.

India, who are leading the table with five points from four matches, need just a point to make it to the final. Sri Lanka are one point behind while New Zealand have three points earned from as many abandoned matches.

The active monsoon has already washed out four of the six matches so far and continues to pose a major threat to the three league matches of the third and final leg at SSC.

For India, undefeated in the tournament, an additional point in the event of tomorrow8217;s tie being called off will take them into the final. For Sri Lanka, the abandonment will leave them on five points and they will have to beat New Zealand in their last league match to make the final.

But any respite from the showers couldenable a truncated affair as drainage facilities at the SSC are excellent. It could turn out to be a tricky affair if the tie is reduced to 25-overs-a-side, where Sri Lanka hold the edge as they have a host of explosive batsmen on their side.

A win for the hosts will see them to the final leaving India to fight it out with the Kiwis for the other spot.

Indian captain Mohd Azharuddin and coach Anshuman Gaekwad believe a truncated match could be possible at SSC as drainage facilities there was the best in Sri Lanka.

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But India was ready for any situation and the best team would be fielded tomorrow if play was possible, Azharuddin told reporters.

The skipper said he might opt to bat first it the wicket was good. 8220;We have to win one match to get into the final and we will field our best team to win tomorrow,8221; he said.

They refused to comment on the Sri Lankan board8217;s unhappiness over India rejecting their suggestion that all the rain-hit matches be replayed. Since the monsoon was due, the provision forreplay should have been made right at the outset, they said.

Teams: India from: Mohd Azharuddin capt, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Ajay Jadeja, Robin Singh, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Nayan Mongia, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Venkatesh Prasad, Harbhajan Singh, Rahul Sanghvi, Debashis Mohanty
Sri Lanka: Arjuna Ranatunga capt, Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardena, Roshan Mahanama, Muttiah Muralitharan, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, Suresh Perera.