Intro:

Speaking in Colombo on Friday (July 4), skipper Angelo Mathews said his Sri Lanka side wants to use the forthcoming series against South Africa as a stepping stone toward the number one spot in the one-day international (ODI) rankings, ahead of next year's World Cup.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (English): Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka captain:

"You know, wherever you play against South Africa, they are very competitive. You know, you can't be complacent against a team like South Africa. You know, they play their best cricket wherever they play and they have got all their guns back. So we expect a really good challenge from the South Africans."

SOUNDBITE (English): Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka captain:

"Well I think we have clicked as a team in all three departments (batting, bowling and fielding) and we find ways of winning in those tough situations. So that has been the key for us. But I think, as I said, we can't be complacent against the South Africans. You know, the England series is in the past now. It's history. It's done and dusted. Now we've got to move on and play our good cricket to beat the South Africans."

SOUNDBITE (English): Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka captain:

(on use the series against South Africa as a stepping stone towards the number one spot in the one day international (ODI) rankings, ahead of next year's World Cup).

"Well that is at the back of our minds. But we just want to take it game by game, series by series, play positive cricket. Do the right things that we have done in the past. I mean rankings, you can gradually get there but I think need to do the right things and take one game at a time first."