Rain within the air as New Zealand eye Super League bragging rights

Big image – Sri Lanka are headed for the WC qualifiers

Realistically, Sri Lanka’s possibilities of computerized qualification for this yr’s ODI World Cup are distant. If South Africa win their two ODIs towards Netherlands, they’ll have 98 Super League factors, which can be a tally out of Sri Lanka’s attain. The most probably course of occasions is that Sri Lanka should play the qualifiers in Zimbabwe in June and July this yr.
For a lot of this Super League cycle, they’ve performed like a facet that doesn’t deserve computerized qualification. The solely main collection through which they surpassed expectation was a 3-2 win at house towards Australia final yr, however that did not depend in the direction of the Super League.
As was the case on Saturday, the batting order is one in all Sri Lanka’s main issues. New Zealand bowled them out for 76 at Eden Park, and that was the second successive recreation through which the staff complete didn’t attain 80; that they had been bowled out for 73 in January by India, who had amassed 390 for five in the identical match.
Beyond Angelo Mathews, who had not performed ODIs for 2 years, there are not any batters within the prime seven with a constant monitor file within the format. As the bowling can also be discovering its approach, this presents a major problem. There was some criticism of staff choice for the primary recreation; the choice to depart out Dhananjaya de Silva specifically. But after 65 ODIs, de Silva averages simply 26.28 and has a strike charge of solely 78 on this format. Thus, there’s little proof of his being a game-changing batter.

New Zealand, in the meantime, can guarantee they end on the prime of the Super League desk with another victory. This is especially for bragging rights, and a validation of their wonderful ODI type over the previous three years, although they did lose their final collection 3-0 in India – that wasn’t a part of the Super League both.

Mainly, although, the second ODI towards Sri Lanka in Christchurch can be one other audition for these urgent for World Cup spots. Henry Shipley’s five-wicket haul to win the primary recreation may have caught the selectors’ eyes, whereas Finn Allen’s 51 and Rachin Ravindra’s 49 from decrease down the order may also have impressed.

New Zealand are attending to the fine-tuning stage of their World Cup preparation; Sri Lanka have enormous holes of their recreation to handle.

(Last 5 accomplished matches; most up-to-date first)

New Zealand WLLLW
Sri Lanka LLLLW

An allrounder who can bat with the tail, and bowl respectable left-arm spin, Rachin Ravindra is strictly the form of cricketer New Zealand would possibly profit from having of their squad for the lengthy World Cup marketing campaign in India. In internationals thus far, he had been respectable with the ball in T20Is, however modest with the bat in 12 innings. His debut ODI innings on Saturday, although, advised he was able to taking part in mature innings, as he needed to bat with the tail for a good portion of that knock.
Wanindu Hasaranga is arguably the most effective T20 bowler round proper now, however he has not been wherever close to pretty much as good in ODIs, significantly lately. In reality, he has been wicketless in his final 4 ODIs even when, in a type of, he conceded solely 28 runs from his ten overs. There can also be a college of thought that implies he has critical potential as a batter on this format. But thus far, he has lacked consistency in each disciplines. With so little time to groom a brand new frontline spinner earlier than the World Cup, Sri Lanka want Hasaranga to get his ODI recreation into gear.

Hagley Oval is mostly not a massively high-scoring venue with its large boundaries, and a pitch that tends to help seamers. There is rain forecast for the morning and early afternoon, which can delay the beginning of play, and maybe even power a shortened match.

New Zealand should make two adjustments to the facet that thumped Sri Lanka by 198 runs within the first ODI, as Allen and Glenn Phillips have left the nation to play within the IPL. While Henry Nicholls is more likely to open in Allen’s place, Mark Chapman would possibly are available in for Phillips.

New Zealand (possible): 1 Henry Nicholls, 2 Chad Bowes, 3 Will Young, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (capt, wk), 6 Mark Chapman, 7 Rachin Ravindra, 8 Henry Shipley, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Blair Tickner

There has been some controversy over Dhananjaya de Silva’s place. On Friday, de Silva acknowledged unequivocally that he had not refused to bat at No. 7, refuting the hearsay circulating on social media. He should still battle to make this XI, although, until Sri Lanka prolong their batting order, and do away with a frontline bowler.

Sri Lanka (potential): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Nuwanidu Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Angelo Mathews, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Dhananjaya de Silva, 8 Chamika Karunaratne, 9 Wanindu Hasaranga, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Lahiru Kumara

Source web site: www.espncricinfo.com

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