MUMBAI – New Zealand and Sri Lanka will Friday lock horns in a fierce tussle for final group positions in their last match ahead of the World Cup knockout round. The pressure to qualify is now off with New Zealand and Sri Lanka joined in the last eight by fellow Group A sides Australia and Pakistan, but final positions are crucial as they determine opponents in the next round.
New Zealand have emerged as the tournament’s dark horses, winning their past three matches, including an emphatic 110-run victory against the talent-packed but unpredictable Pakistan, their fourth success out of five. The Black Caps have stumbled only once, against four-time champions Australia, but Daniel Vettori’s men appear to have put that blip behind them. “There’s a very confident feeling in the camp at the moment,” said all-rounder Jacob Oram.
“The guys have played well three games in a row now, so it’s a turnaround from where we were last year, but we also have to realise that the actual business end of the tournament starts now. “We have to win Friday to give ourselves an even bigger confidence boost going into the quarters.” New Zealand’s only major worry in the run-up to the day-night match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is the fitness of Vettori and fast bowler Kyle Mills.
Vettori (knee) missed the 97-run win against Canada on Sunday while Mills left the field after only 2.4 overs of his spell with a strain in his left leg. Runners-up in the 2007 edition, Sri Lanka have cantered to easy wins over Canada, Kenya and Zimbabwe but lost to Pakistan and saw their much-anticipated clash against Australia abandoned due to rain. Sri Lanka have brushed aside the issue of having to play their final league game in Mumbai despite being one of the tournament co-hosts. “It’s not a big deal,” said all-rounder Angelo Mathews.
“The conditions are similar to Sri Lanka and the wickets are also slow. We have also played in India often. “New Zealand have been playing good cricket and we have also been playing well. It would be a good challenge,” said Mathews. Only South Africa have confirmed qualification from Group B but finishing higher in the group could secure New Zealand or Sri Lanka a match against England, Bangladesh or the West Indies as opposed to the more highly fancied India or South Africa.
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath.
Coach: Trevor Bayliss (AUS)
New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (capt), Hamish Bennett, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Luke Woodcock.
Coach: John Wright
