New Zealand to face Sri Lanka today

Sports Desk: In Match 3 of ICC World Cup 2019, Kane Williamson's New Zealand will face Sri Lanka at the Cardiff Wales Stadium on Saturday. The Black Caps reached the final four years ago for the first time after six semi-final defeats, but were defeated by Australia in Melbourne.

Newly appointed captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who has returned to ODIs after four years, has been handed the responsibility of lifting a team that have lost eight of their past nine ODIs. Kane Williamson has replaced the swashbuckling Brendon McCullum as captain but the core of the team that came so close in 2015 remains. Since the last World Cup, New Zealand have risen as high as second in the world rankings but have also been beaten at home by South Africa, England and India.

The Kiwis start clear favourites in their opener against 1996 winners Sri Lanka, a side that has slumped to ninth in the ODI rankings and has been struggling to rise to the status they once held -- one of the most dominant sides in ODIs.

But Sri Lanka have an impressive World Cup record, with one title, two runners-up finishes and one semi-final appearance. The young side may hand some upsets and cannot be written off this early.

New Zealand beat World Cup favourites India in their opening World Cup warm-up game before going down to the West Indies. The Black Caps were taken for plenty by the West Indies in their final warm-up match where they squandered 421 runs and eventually lost the match by 91 runs. However, they would take a lot of confidence from their first outing against India where they bundled out the Men in Blue for 179 before chasing down their total with six wickets to spare.

Ross Taylor has been in breathtaking form in recent years in the one-day game, averaging over 60 in ODIs in 2017 and more than 90 last year.

Williamson and Martin Guptill are the other dangermen in the New Zealand batting line-up while Trent Boult would leads the bowling attack with Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee for company. Spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner would be handy for the the captain.

Sri Lanka's tournament preparations have been not been ideal as they lost both of their warm-up fixtures against South Africa and Australia. If there was any positive for Sri Lanka in those two matches, it was the half centuries hit by newly appointed skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and the wise old head of Angelo Matthews.

The 1996 champions are in dire need of motivation and captain Karunaratne himself has to inspire the unit. The left-hander, who had scored his maiden test hundred against the Black Caps in 2014, could be the glue that holds the Sri Lankan batting together. He will have the support of veteran pacer Lasith Malinga who can instil confidence into the team, both with his bowling and experience.


risingbd/June 1, 2019/Mukul