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ST GEORGE'S, Grenada - Unorthodox pace bowler Lasith Malinga is expected to be fully fit for Sri Lanka's cricket World Cup semifinal with New Zealand in Jamaica next week.
Malinga has missed the Sri Lankan's last three Super Eights encounters with ankle ligament damage though he is already considered to be 90 per cent fit ahead of Wednesday's (NZT) sudden death match at Sabina Park in Kingston.
The distinctive right armer who kisses the ball before unleashing it slingshot style from in front of the umpire's waist, had been in daunting form before rolling his left ankle during training after the spine-tingling two-run victory over England on April 4.
Although he has missed games against New Zealand, Australia and Ireland, he still has 15 wickets at 14.27 -- including an unprecedented four in four balls against South Africa in Guyana last month.
While his teammates were routing the Irish for 77 -- the tournament's lowest score -- at the Grenada National Stadium today, Malinga was being put through his paces in the adjacent nets.
Captain Mahela Jayawardene reported his strike weapon bowled 10 overs and was "90 per cent okay".
"We probably should have played him (against Ireland) but we didn't want to take a risk," he said.
"We've got a few more days -- almost a week -- before New Zealand and we want to make sure he's right after all the hard work put in to get him back to full fitness."
Malinga has caused New Zealand batsmen plenty of problems over the past two seasons, particularly at test level where it can be hard to pick up the red ball when slung out from his low trajectory.
At one-day level he has taken eight Black Caps wickets at 24.57 -- mainly through a sandshoe crushing yorker and the ability to get an old ball to reverse swing.
His best bowling figures against New Zealand are the three for 14 he snared at Eden Park in January -- and it was no coincidence that return dovetailed with the home side capitulating for 73, their second lowest score in one-day internationals.
New Zealand's batsmen were relieved Malinga was unavailable for their Super Eights game here last week though his absence was barely noticed as Sri Lanka still managed to cruise to a comfortable six-wicket victory.
Sri Lanka have another injury concern with opening bowler Dilhara Fernando missing the eight-wicket win over Ireland with a long-term ankle injury, though he too is expected to challenge New Zealand for a place in the April 28 final.
"It's not very serious, he's had the problem a long time now," Jayawardene explained.
"He had the (painkilling) injection a few days ago so he'll be right in a couple of days time."
Meanwhile, Australian allrounder Shane Watson is also poised to make his comeback from a calf strain against New Zealand on Saturday (NZT).
He will replace batsman Brad Hodge in the starting line-up and make his first appearance since breaking down 10 balls into his first spell against Bangladesh on March 31.
New Zealand have no fitness concerns ahead of the trans-Tasman clash now pace bowler Michael Mason has also recovered from his calf muscle problem, also sustained against Bangladesh in Antigua, two days later.
- NZPA
