India versus Sri Lanka; Tendulkar vs Muralitharan

MUMBAI, India (AP):

There can be no mistaking the leading characters in this World Cup final, featuring cricket's best batsman against the most prolific bowler.

Sachin Tendulkar on his home ground, bidding for a first title in six trips to the World Cup, will take on Muttiah Muralitharan, aiming to win it again in his last game for Sri Lanka.

It's India vs Sri Lanka, for cricket is a team sport. But it's a complex team sport played by individuals and, in this case, there's two who are peerless in their respective disciplines.

Tendulkar will be under enormous pressure, with India desperate to end a 28-year wait for their second World Cup title and become the first country to win it on home soil. Tendulkar, who will be 38 next month and is showing no signs of being slowed by age, made his first-class debut at Wankhede Stadium - venue for the final - in 1998 and has been in the international arena for two decades.

He has scored more runs than any batsman ever - more than 18,000 in ODIs alone - and is one shy of his 100th hundred in international cricket. His nearest rival, recently deposed Australian captain Ricky Ponting, is next on the list with 69.

Tendulkar narrowly missed his century of centuries in India's 29-run semi-final win over arch-rivals Pakistan, but he was dropped four times and had an lbw decision overturned. Such a streaky innings wouldn't have done the most elegant of batsmen justice.

Besides, it adds even more drama to the tournament final in the thriving financial and entertainment hub, home to India's Bollywood.

"Going back to Mumbai, especially for this event, is a wonderful occasion,'' Tendulkar said. "And all I want to say is, we want to be calm, focus on our job and get the job done.''

Muralitharan, hobbling and doubtful with a host of nagging injuries, won the World Cup at the age of 23 when Sri Lanka stunned the cricket establishment by winning the premier limited-overs title with a seven-wicket over the Australians at Lahore in 1996.

Since then, he has taken more wickets in Tests and limited-overs cricket than anyone in history. And he only needs three more to equal Australian pace great Glenn McGrath's record 71 World Cup wickets.

Perfect Colombo send-off

He had his perfect Colombo send-off when he took a wicket with his final ball on home soil in Sri Lanka's semi-final win over New Zealand, when he was hoisted on to his teammates' shoulders and later did a lap of honour with the national flag.

Muralitharan has been through many trials and tribulations, not least when he was no-balled for using what umpires considered an illegal bowling action on his first tour to Australia, so he's unlikely to let hamstring, groin and side strains stop him rolling in for his last 10 overs of off spin.

"Chances are good that Murali will play,'' Sri Lanka's Australia-born coach Trevor Bayliss said yesterday. "He completed 10 overs in the semi-final, and such is the character of the man that he will play even with discomfort.''

The only other concern for Sri Lanka is a lack of time at the crease for their middle order. The Sri Lankans have three of the top five scorers in the tournament, led by opener Tillakaratne Dilshan. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara is also in superb touch at No. 3 and as wicketkeeper.

India's batting is undoubtedly its strength, but the bowling attack did well to defend 260 at Mohali, with all five bowlers taking two wickets apiece.

Australia's Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar of Pakistan will be the umpires standing in tomorrow's final which is set to start at 4 a.m. (Jamaica time).