*Official* Match 38 - New Zealand v Sri Lanka

[James]

New Zealand v Sri Lanka
Fri Mar 18
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
09:00 GMT | 14:30 local | 20:00 EST | 19:30 CST | 17:00 WST

New Zealand Squad

Daniel Vettori (captain), Hamish Bennett, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum (wicketkeeper), Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Luke Woodcock

Sri Lanka Squad

Kumar Sangakkara (captain/keeper), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thisara Perera, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga

 

[0RI0N]

The team this guy plays for:

 

[Bahnz]

Sigh...just when it looked like New Zealand were starting to build some momentum our two best bowlers go and get injured. Sri Lanka to win comfortably.

 

[0RI0N]

Reckon a full strength Enzed team would of fancy their chances at The Wankede.

 

[Bringbackbondy]

Sigh...just when it looked like New Zealand were starting to build some momentum our two best bowlers go and get injured. Sri Lanka to win comfortably.

Yea a real shame that Mills got injured just after it looked like he was getting some rhythm back after a tough couple of months.

 

[Mike5181]

Without Mills and Vettori we will find it hard to contain what is a pretty good batting line up. Wouldn't dream of saying this a few months ago but if we are to succeed in this game. It will be our batting that did the bu-si-ness.

 

[Migara]

Expect some grass on the wicket.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Expect some grass on the wicket.

If that's the case then I expect Southee to rip through the Sri Lankans.

 

[vcs]

SL will win comfortably IMO. Vettori and Mills will be a big miss for the Kiwis.

 

[Migara]

If that's the case then I expect Southee to rip through the Sri Lankans.

Nah, there are some good players of pace there like Sanga, Mathews and Samaraweera. But NZ will find Kulasekara very difficult on such a track, and not to mention what Perera will do on such a track. SL will struggle on flat pitches, because batsmen don't know how to play on flat tracks as Indians to, and bowlers will get smashed on them. SL will be happy with a lively wicket because it is playing with their strengths.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Nah, there are some good players of pace there like Sanga, Mathews and Samaraweera. But NZ will find Kulasekara very difficult on such a track, and not to mention what Perera will do on such a track. SL will struggle on flat pitches, because batsmen don't know how to play on flat tracks as Indians to, and bowlers will get smashed on them. SL will be happy with a lively wicket because it is playing with their strengths.

And I thought Samaraweera is a flat track bully

 

[Migara]

We are also not sure because he has not played in many of seaming tracks. Plays well on dust bowls, and played some good knocks on seamin wickets as well. But still a unknown entity on seaming wickets. But has technique for sure.

 

[Blaze 18]

Expect some grass on the wicket.

More likely to be a road to be honest.

 

[BeeGee]

A bit of a dead rubber, this game, as both teams have already qualified for the QFs. So all that's riding on this game is Group order/momentum.

I'm really torn about whether I want NZ to win this game or not. IMO, the least desirable team for NZ to face in the QFs is India. India look like they're going to finish 2nd in B, so 3rd is the position for NZ to avoid. If NZ lose this game they will probably end up 4th and avoid India, but if they win they could end up 3rd and face India. BUT, if NZ win and Pak beat Aus then NZ would top Group A and probably face the WIs.

Maybe I should just stop worrying and enjoy the game.

 

[Bahnz]

A bit of a dead rubber, this game, as both teams have already qualified for the QFs. So all that's riding on this game is Group order/momentum.

I'm really torn about whether I want NZ to win this game or not. IMO, the least desirable team for NZ to face in the QFs is India. India look like they're going to finish 2nd in B, so 3rd is the position for NZ to avoid. If NZ lose this game they will probably end up 4th and avoid India, but if they win they could end up 3rd and face India. BUT, if NZ win and Pak beat Aus then NZ would top Group A and probably face the WIs.

Maybe I should just stop worrying and enjoy the game.

Scenario's

NZ Lose - We'll finish 3rd or 4th
Pak Lose (most likely, although you can't guarantee it) - Unless NZ get absolutely hammered, we'll finish 3rd because we've got a considerably better NRR than Pakistan does.
Pak Wins: We come 4th

NZ Win
We'll finish 1st or 2nd depending on the outcome of the Aus Pak match.

 

[Blaze 18]

If Sri Lanka beat New Zealand and Australia beat Pakistan, New Zealand will likely finish third and face India in the quarter-final.

If Sri Lanka beat New Zealand and Pakistan beat Australia, New Zealand will finish fourth and face South Africa in the quarter-final.

If New Zealand beat Sri Lanka and Australia beat Pakistan, New Zealand will finish second and likely face England in the quarter-final.

If New Zealand beat Sri Lanka and Pakistan beat Australia, New Zealand will likely finish first and face West Indies in the quarter-final.

They could be facing any of the four!

 

[BeeGee]

Scenario's

NZ Lose - We'll finish 3rd or 4th
Pak Lose (most likely, although you can't guarantee it) - Unless NZ get absolutely hammered, we'll finish 3rd because we've got a considerably better NRR than Pakistan does.
Pak Wins: We come 4th

NZ Win
We'll finish 1st or 2nd depending on the outcome of the Aus Pak match.

If Sri Lanka beat New Zealand and Australia beat Pakistan, New Zealand will likely finish third and face India in the quarter-final.

If Sri Lanka beat New Zealand and Pakistan beat Australia, New Zealand will finish fourth and face South Africa in the quarter-final.

If New Zealand beat Sri Lanka and Australia beat Pakistan, New Zealand will finish second and likely face England in the quarter-final.

If New Zealand beat Sri Lanka and Pakistan beat Australia, New Zealand will likely finish first and face West Indies in the quarter-final.

They could be facing any of the four!

Just not India, anyone but India, please.

 

[Bahnz]

Just not India, anyone but India, please.

Of course we're assuming that India will win their last game against the windies. If an upset occurs then finishing 3rd would be ideal as we'd get a game against the windies.

 

[Blaze 18]

Just not India, anyone but India, please.

I don't want India to face New Zealand either, I'd be more comfortable with having Sri Lanka as our quarter-final opponent.

 

[Turbinator]

Just not India, anyone but India, please.

Sorry man, looks like you guys will be facing us most likely. Should be a good game.