The opening game of the ICC T20 world Cup takes place in Providence, Guyana on Friday. New Zealand takes on Sri Lanka in Group B.
Venue and conditions:
There is rain around for these contests at Providence so don’t be surprised if we get a reduction in overs, especially with a game to fit in after this one. The toss is key with seven sides in 10 matches batting first and winning. The highest second innings total is 244. This is the first T20 international played there.
Trivia:
Shane Bond has taken 18 wickets against Sri Lanka in 13 matches.
Sri Lanka Vs New Zealand:
Sri Lanka:
Sangakkara skippers the side which includes a few golden oldies such as Jayasuria, Murali, Dilshan and Jayawardene along with some promising youngsters, many of whom have already made a mark in one format or another. The excellent Lasith Malinga leads the pace bowling attack but significantly, Sangakkara is already talking up the significance of his options to take pace off the ball. Murali and Mendis are the front liners in this respect but Sri Lanka can call on at least three others who are more than useful. Dilshan had a really disappointing IPL and a return to the sort of form he showed in this tournament last year would be a major boost. If the wickets are spin friendly, I expect Sri Lanka to once again have a good tilt at this tournament.
New Zealand:
The Black Caps go in with the majority of their tried and trusted. Vettori has the likes of McCullum, Ryder, Taylor, Styris, Bond, Mills and Oram all of whom are dangerous customers in their respective disciplines but they seem to struggle to put it together at the same time. I quietly fancied them last season when they were also a double figures quote in the outright winner market but they were found wanting against the better sides.
Ross Taylor only got going late in the IPL, too late to help the Royal Challengers to success, but he does look the prize wicket amongst the batsmen. Shane Bond’s return is most welcome, Mills is a good performer and Vettori himself can be relied upon to be economical but the strength of the remaining bowlers is a real concern and despite possessing some good hitting power (on their day) that puts me off their chances.
The Verdict:
The stats would appear to demand Sri Lanka should win comfortably. Of the last 11 meetings in one-day cricket, Sri Lanka have won eight. Mahela Jayawardene was the stand out performer of a Kings XI side who struggled badly in the recent IPL. He amassed 439 runs, averaging 43.90 with a strike rate of 147.3. Top stats indeed and with doubts over the form of Dilshan and Jayasuria and with Sangakkara having to possibly combine gloves and captaincy duties; Mahela is my man to be top Sri Lankan bat in the tournament.
New Zealand has wonderful T20 players and hitting all-rounders. Tight contest is on cards.
Final Words:
The most important team change is Sri Lanka’s decision to use Mahela Jaywardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan as openers. Sanath Jayasuriya is expected to bat in the middle order, taking him right back to the start of his career.
Sri Lanka will rely on an army of spinners led by Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis. There was no room in the squad for IPL men Dilhara Fernando or Thilan Thushara.
The wonderfully rotund Jesse Ryder is fit for the Kiwis but was strangely absent in the warm-up against West Indies. Surely he will replace the dreadful Aaron Redmond at the top of the order? Otherwise New Zealand could bat all the way down to No 9 thanks to Daniel Vettori, Jacob Oram and Nathan McCullum.
In two matches Jayasuriya averages 70 on this ground and he could be value to shine down the order in his finishing role. In terms of the recent head-to-heads, Dilshan and Ross Taylor have top scored twice apiece in the last four matches.
Author: Mona Gupta (New Delhi)
