COLOMBO, 22 March 2006 — Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has backed his young, injury-depleted side to beat Pakistan in the final One-Day International and level the series.

Sri Lanka trail 1-0 after losing a tense low-scoring encounter at Premadasa International Stadium by four wickets, a defeat that means they are no longer guaranteed a place in the ICC Champions Trophy later this year in India.

“We batted badly in the second match and ended up about 40 runs short of a decent total,” Jayawardene told Reuters yesterday.

“But I was really impressed by the spirit the youngsters showed in the field — we really fought hard and we can take a lot of positives from that.” The final ODI in the series will be played today.

“Obviously it is hard when you lose the services of players of the caliber of Marvan (Atapattu) and Chaminda (Vaas) but this is a great opportunity for young players to gain experience.

“When I look around the dressing room I can see a lot of exciting talent and believe that if we can put together a more applied batting performance on Wednesday then we will beat Pakistan.”

Sri Lanka are set to name an unchanged team with Chamara Kapugedera, just 18, set to open the innings in an experiment forced upon the team by injuries to Atapattu and veteran Sanath Jayasuriya. Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer, meanwhile, said he was delighted with the way his batsmen had safely negotiated the key threat of off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

Muralitharan has been economical in the series, conceding 55 runs in 20 overs, but has yet to take a single wicket.

“We did prepare a lot on how to play him (Muralitharan) and so far our boys have played him reasonably well,” Woolmer told reporters.

“It’s surprising that he has not taken any wickets because he is a world-class bowler, but it’s a good sign for us keeping in mind the Test series.”

But Jayawardene brushed aside the suggestion Pakistan had mastered Sri Lanka’s most potent bowler.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan will play a two-Test series starting on March 26.

ICC Report Says South Africans Racially Abused in Australia

In Dubai, South African players were subjected to racial abuse during their tour of Australia and it did not come from South African expatriates, according to an official ICC report.

India’s solicitor general Goolam Vahanvati was appointed by the ICC to conduct an inquiry following a complaint from the United Cricket Board of South Africa after the tour, from December through February.

“I find that racial abuse of South African players has taken place during their tour of Australia,” ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed quoted the report as saying yesterday.

“Herschelle Gibbs, Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel and Boeta Dippenaar were all subjected to racial abuse in different places.

“It would be wrong to attribute racial abuse to South African expatriates living in Australia. It was premeditated, coordinated and calculated to get after the players. It is a serious matter,” he told a news conference.