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Crunch comes early for NZ

Sri Lanka v NZ match factbox
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Factbox on the World Cup Group B match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand on Monday: TEAMS: Both sides are dangerous floaters in the draw. Sri Lanka, with their explosive batting backed up by Muttiah Muralitharan's extraordinary off-spin, are a major threat to any side on their day. New Zealand, meanwhile, regularly punch above their weight in one-dayers and have their own trump cards in express pace bowler Shane Bond and batsman Nathan Astle.

Form watch: Sri Lanka are so much more effective at home than away. They shared the Champions Trophy, the biggest one-day event outside the World Cup, with India in September, but then lost 4-1 in South Africa just before this tournament.

New Zealand hammered India 5-2 at home in their final warm-up but South Africa's pitches will be quite different. Earlier in 2002 lost 3-0 in Pakistan, 3-1 in West Indies and were knocked out of the Champions Trophy at the first hurdle.

Head-to-heads: Sri Lanka have dominated their more recent exchanges, winning 13 of the last 16 games since 1997. But the teams have not played for almost a year, while New Zealand may opt instead to look at their World Cup form, having beaten the Sri Lankans in three of their four encounters.

Key players: Sri Lanka - Sanath Jayasuriya, the player of the 1996 World Cup, is approaching his best form again after a wretched tour of England last year. Hugely powerful left-hander, who hits on the up and throws the bat at anything wide.

New Zealand - Nathan Astle: Regarded as the country's finest one-day batsman but with a lot to prove, having failed in his previous two World Cups. While Jayasuriya scored at a phenomenal strike rate of 131.54 in 1996, Astle scored more than twice as slowly with a meagre average of 18.5.

Previous World Cups: Sri Lanka won the 1996 tournament, in the process revolutionising the game with their all-out attacking batting in the first 15 overs. It was the first time they had qualified for the final stages of the Cup. In 1999, they crashed out early, prompting a cull of older players. New Zealand were semi-finalists in 1975, 1979, 1992 and 1999 as well as quarter-finalists in 1995.

Venue: Goodyear Park became home to the Free State Cricket Union in 1989 but had to wait 10 years for its first test when South Africa beat Zimbabwe in 1999. Fast bowler Allan Donald, playing in front of his home crowd, became the first South African to take 300 test wickets here against New Zealand in 2000.

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, Feb 8 (Reuters) - New Zealand's hopes of improving on their semi-final appearance at the last World Cup will be instantly put to the test when they take on 1996 champions Sri Lanka on Monday.

The first-round clash is crucial to both team's chances of advancing to the second stage but especially for the Kiwis, who are considering forfeiting their Group B match against Kenya over security concerns.

While team officials have still not made a firm decision on whether they will make the trip to Nairobi, New Zealand's players are acutely aware of the importance of their match against Sri Lanka, in which defeat would leave them facing an uphill battle to qualify for the Super Six phase. New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, speaking after his team's win over South African province Gauteng this week, said he was confident about their chances.

"We usually start tournaments well," Fleming said. "We're going to do well because we believe in the squad we've got." New Zealand go into the match as slight favourites after demolishing India 5-2 at home and easily winning their two warm-up games in South Africa.

All rounder Chris Cairns has played in the past three World Cups, making the semi-finals in 1992 and 1999, but said the current New Zealand squad was the best he had ever been involved with.

"In the last two tournaments we had a good side and thought we would do well, but this one here, with the side we've got we're quietly confident," Cairns said.

"The preparation's been fantastic and it's the best unit I've been involved in, that's for sure." The unpredictable Sri Lankans finished last in a triangular warm-up series with Australia and England, but showed glimpses of their best, including a one-off victory over World Cup favourites Australia, to remind everyone they remain a serious threat on their day.

They received an early boost before the match against New Zealand when off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the third highest wicket-taker in limited-overs international history, was cleared to play. There was some doubt about him taking part after he tore a thigh muscle in Australia, but he ended doubts about his fitness when he helped Sri Lanka to a comfortable win over Free State on Thursday.

"Since it was the World Cup we were a bit cautious about how soon to play him, but he came out well on Thursday and I see no reason why he will not take the field on Monday," Sri Lanka physiotherapist Alex Kontouri told reporters. BIG IMPROVERS New Zealand have been one of the big improvers in one-day cricket in recent years.

After making the World Cup semi-finals in 1999, they went on to win the ICC Champions Trophy in 2000 and knocked Australia out of their own triangular tournament a season ago, ultimately ending the one-day international career of Steve Waugh. They have a settled batting line-up that includes Nathan Astle and captain Stephen Fleming and an improving bowling attack led by seamers Shane Bond and Jacob Oram, and spinner Daniel Vettori.

Their trump card is Cairns, whose effectiveness has been partly blunted by a knee injury that will prevent him bowling against Sri Lanka. "I'm excited but I do wish I had my bowling," Cairns said. "With my mental make-up I love being in the game, I feed off both aspects so it is frustrating." Sri Lanka also boast a potent assortment of quick-scoring batsman, led by veteran captain Sanath Jayasuriya and the exciting Mahela Jayawardene but Muralitharan's bowling remains their biggest asset.

Sri Lanka have beaten New Zealand 13 of the last 16 times they have played since May 1997, with the Kiwis managing a rare win in April last year when Muralitharan took five for nine from 10 overs.

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