WC Preview: Sri Lanka v New Zealand

Martin Guptill as good as Nuwan Kulasekara

Where: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

When: Tuesday Mar 29, 14:30 local, 09:00 GMT, 20:00 AEDT, 22:00 NZDT

ODI Head to Head: Played: 73 Wins: Sri Lanka 33, New Zealand 35 Ties: 1 No Result: 4

Last meeting: Mar 18, 2011 – Sri Lanka 265-9 (50 ov) degraded New Zealand 153 (35 ov) by 112 runs.

World Cup Head to head: Played: 8 Wins: Sri Lanka 5, New Zealand 3

World Cup Last meeting: Mar 18, 2011 – Sri Lanka 265-9 (50 ov) degraded New Zealand 153 (35 ov) by 112 runs.

Selection Table:
Likely Sri Lanka team: Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Murali Muralidaran.

Nuwan Kulasekara should lapse to supplement some-more gait to a line-up, replacing spinner Rangana Herath with no indiscriminate changes required after their artistic thrashing of England.

Likely New Zealand team: Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Scott Styris, James Franklin, Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Daryl Tuffey.

After Kyle Mills did not lift up for their quarter-final, he was transposed in a patrol by Andy McKay as good as in a XI by Luke Woodcock. Hamish Bennett’s early depart home to Christchurch due to damage equates to World Cup debutant opposite a Proteas, Woodcock, might keep his mark for a semi-final.
But a event might tumble a approach of a some-more gifted Daryl Tuffey (Bennett’s patrol replacement). Tuffey himself has appeared only 3 times for a Kiwis in Cup matches, twice in 2003 as good as once in 2007, yet it is a make a difference of compare aptness for a 32-year-old.

X-Factor:
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara – a undisputed category action of their batting line-up, Sangakkara had a good rest as he watched openers Tharanga as good as Dilshan set upon dominant centuries in their quarter-final feat over England, as good as will be ideally freshened to broach come semi-final time. Already with 363 runs to his name this tournament, as good as an normal of 121 in 6 innings’ this campaign, Sangakkara can blow a diversion detached with his bomb attack as good as send Sri Lanka to their second uninterrupted Cup final.

New Zealand: Ross Taylor – a Kiwis’ answer to Sangakkara, Taylor can set upon a cover off a round for his side as good as assistance them set up a rival sum from a middle-order. Taylor is NZ’s heading run-scorer this debate with 288 from 5 innings as good as a set upon rate of over 90. Should their top-order fail, New Zealand can equate upon a absolute right-hander to supplement to his fourteen sixes this contest – a many of any player – to beam them to victory.

Summary:
Sri Lanka have a graphic value of carrying played in Colombo upon 3 occasions this contest to New Zealand’s none, as good as will have a improved bargain of a intricacies of a pitch.

A nine-wicket win (against Kenya), a ten-wicket win (England) as good as an 11-run detriment (Pakistan) leaves a Sri Lankans good placed to again put in a plain opening during a R Premadasa Stadium, whilst a Kiwis already have to understanding with a prejudiced throng entertaining opposite them, along with their large loser tab as they have been suddenly crept in to a last four.

Beating South Africa, though, will safeguard New Zealand have been a reputable category come Tuesday, yet Sri Lanka have sufficient category as good as sufficient form during a back of them to safeguard a comparatively easy Cup last berth, in more aged to a alternative almost (India-Pakistan).

Discarding Pakistan’s win over Canada (given batting sequence is nearby not pertinent in such a unilateral affair), teams batting second have won 3 out of 4 encounters upon this belligerent during a World Cup.

Sri Lanka have posted poignant totals of 266-9 (50 overs), 146-1 (18.4), 146-3 (32.5) as good as 231-0 (39.3) definition a Kiwis have to get early wickets when they play or hope for to face a co-hosts’ batting wrath.