Sri Lanka look to Muralitharan to tame Tendulkar

Pakistan may be India's fiercest rival but for the inhabitants of Sri Lanka there is no bigger fixture than that against its vast neighbour across the Gulf of Mannar, and no better feeling than putting one over on them. However, both India and Sir Lanka have far more to play for than local pride when they meet today in match four of the Super Sixes.

Ensuring qualification for the semi-finals of the World Cup will be India's objective here at the Wanderers ground. Sri Lanka's is to improve their hopes of reaching the last four.

Although India are virtually assured of a place in the semis – only two defeats and a Kenya victory could eliminate them – Sourav Ganguly's side still have plenty to play for because victory today would give them enough points to avoid meeting that unstoppable juggernaut called Australia until the final. In a World Cup where controversy has outshone the players' performances, such an encounter could at least give everyone a memorable final.

Meanwhile, for Sri Lanka there was better news on the fitness of their captain Sanath Jayasuriya, who was hit on the wrist by a Brett Lee delivery during Friday's defeat to Australia. Jayasuriya's World Cup had looked over but X-rays yesterday revealed no break and he is expected to resume his place at the top of the innings.

India have no injury worries and are expected to name an unchanged side from that which struggled to overcome Kenya in Cape Town on Friday.

The key battle will be between Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah Muralitharan, the two little masters that each country relies on most to win matches. And while results between India and Sri Lanka over the last 10 completed matches stand at 5-5, Tendulkar has had much the better of Muralitharan in their duels. Indeed, Tendulkar has scored more runs against Sir Lanka than any other one-day team: seven hundreds and 1,948 runs at 47.51 in 50 games .

In 30 of these contests Muralitharan has opposed him but has only dismissed the highest run-scorer in the World Cup four times. However, the spinner's best limited-over bowling figures (7 for 30) came against India in 2000 which should give him added confidence.

Heavy rain here yesterday means it is unlikely that the pitch will suit spin and the game could be dominated by the fast men. This will suit India who in Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan have three seamers at the top of their game.

While India and Sri Lanka will be hoping to avoid Australia, New Zealand are looking forward to taking on their fiercest adversaries after their six-wicket win over Zimbabwe on Saturday. The Black Caps left Bloemfontein as comfortable winners thanks to a mature century from Nathan Astle.

Astle's 13th one-day hundred was probably his most important because without it New Zealand would have had to beat both Australia and India in their last two Super Six matches to qualify for the last four. Now one victory should see them through.

Astle received excellent support from his captain Stephen Fleming and Chris Cairns but this innings was untypically controlled for the naturally attacking right-hander. The only disappointment was that there were only a few spectators around the ground and most focus back home will have been on the Super 12 rugby union match between Auckland Blues and Christchurch Crusaders. Similar feats against Australia tomorrow should get Fleming the coverage his efforts deserve, however.

That the Kiwis had to chase 252 was due to one of the most remarkable climaxes to an innings. As a result of an excellent 53 from Tatenda Taibu, Zimbabwe progressed from 106 for 6 to a respectable 190 for 7 by the start of the 48th over. But nobody could have forecast the carnage which lay ahead. In three overs Heath Streak, who scored a thunderous 72, and Sean Ervine smashed Chris Harris, Daniel Vettori and Andre Adams for 62 valuable runs which turned a decent score into a good one. On another day, and without Astle, it may have been enough.