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Rain threat to tri-series opener

August 13, 2006 21:35 IST

Rain threatens to play spoilsport to India and South Africa's quest to make amends for their dismal one-day record in Sri Lanka in the Unitech Cup cricket tri-series that starts in Colombo on Monday.

Thunder showers, which lashed the capital city for the last 48 hours, washed out India's warm-up match on Sunday after South Africa were deprived of a warm-up match on Saturday.

The weather forecast predicts more rain in the next five days, threatening a washout of the first two matches.

The Proteas, who take on the hosts in the series opener day-night match at the Premadasa Stadium on Monday, have a poor record of one win and nine losses out of the 11 one-day matches they have played in the island nation.

The world No. 2 side's lone win came in 1993, which means a dismal 10 per cent success rate as against an overall winning percentage of 64.

The Indians, who have their first match on Wednesday against the hosts, are only marginally better with a 32 percent winning record in the neighbouring country, even though they thrashed the Lankans 6-1 at home last year.

The South Africans would be without some of their key players -- skipper Graeme Smith, his deputy Jacques Kallis and pacer Charl Langeveldt -- missing the tour due to injuries.

Speedster Makhaya Ntini is also a doubtful starter following a hamstring injury, which he picked during the second Test against the hosts.

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