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RAWALPINDI, Oct 10: Heavy overnight rain that continued virtually throughout the day on Sunday, threatens to spoil Monday's tri-series One-day International between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Thick clouds were continuing to blanket the sister cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and it was unlikely that play could begin on time. Pakistan lead the competition with 16 points from three victories while Sri Lanka sit in second place having seven points from the two matches they have played.
Zimbabwe, still winless, trail at third place. Sri Lanka, who hammered Zimbabwe by seven wickets on Saturday in Rawalpindi after bowling their inexperienced opponents out for a low 104, are aiming to avoid complacency.
"Complacency is one thing that we should guard against but we have been playing these guys more than the other teams and we know," Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu said. "They are an improving team and they can bounce back and win the game against anybody on a given day, so we have to be careful and treat every game seriously and try to finish it off in good fashion."
Zimbabwe have gone 13 One-day Internationals without a win, out of which seven of their defeats have been against Sri Lanka. And their young captain Tatenda Taibu was a particularly disappointed man after Saturday's defeat.
"It was disappointing because we keep taking two steps forward and one backward; we have to keep moving ahead," said the captain who went for a duck in the match. "The guys have got the talent, there is no doubt about that and we are looking at every game as important; we have to go out there and apply ourselves in the three departments."
Only opener Stuart Matsikenyeri, who top-scored with 37 and Dion Ebrahim who chipped in with 24 not out, could make double figures while all others fell cheaply. "We kept losing wickets although we had a good start, it was combination of poor shot selection and good bowling from their side," said Taibu who needs only one run to complete 1000 in One-day International cricket.
TEAMS (FROM):
SRI LANKA: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Mahela Jayawardene (vice captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Saman Jayantha, Avishka Gunawardene, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana, Nuwan Zoysa, Dilhara Fernando, Thilina Kandamby, Rangana Herath, Kaushal Lokuarachchi.
ZIMBABWE: Tatenda Taibu (captain), Brendon Taylor, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Dion Ebrahim, Mark Vermeulen, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Alestar Maregwede, Mluleki Nkala, Elton Chigumbura, Edward Rainsford, Twanda Mupariwa, Prosper Utseya, Douglas Hondo, Tinashe Panyangara, Graeme Alexander Cremer.
UMPIRES: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Simon Taufel (Australia).
TV UMPIRES: Zameer Haider (Pakistan).
MATCH REFEREE: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand).
