COLOMBO, Sept 28: India will aim to upstage hosts Sri Lanka in their own backyard in an All-Asian Champions Trophy final on Sunday which will produce a first-time winner.

Saurav Ganguly’s side is hopeful their formidable batting line-up can take on Sri Lanka’s varied slow bowling led by their consistent match-winner, off-break bowler Muttiah Muralitharan.

India, who have reached their second consecutive final of an event ranked only behind the World Cup, are keen not to slip-up after losing to New Zealand in the 2000 Nairobi edition.

India and Sri Lanka claimed contrasting semifinal victories over South Africa and world champions Australia respectively.

The hosts crushed Australia by seven wickets with 10 overs to spare Friday after India escaped defeat to pip South Africa by 10 runs Wednesday.

Australian batsmen had failed to come to terms with a slow, spin-friendly pitch after losing early wickets to spin.

But Indian batsmen are confident on familiar sub-continent conditions despite the home side’s superb record at the venue.

Sri Lanka have won 75 percent of their matches at the Premadasa Stadium, claiming 33 of their 46 games including a 10-4 win-loss record over India.

Teams:

Sri Lanka (from): Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardena, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Dharmasena, Pulasthi Gunaratne, Dilhara Fernando, Upul Chandana.

India (likely): Saurav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Vangipurappu Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies) and David Shepherd (England).

Third umpire: Daryl Harper (Australia).

Match referee: Clive Lloyd (West Indies).—Reuters/AFP