In a big show that has reached the sizzling of top favourites hosts and reigning champions India’s invincibility smashed up by South Africa yesterday, and West Indies rekindle a once famous Calypso might in thrashing Zimbabwe by a record second highest world cup score on a charged up hundred by Shimron Hetmyer, a back to the wall co-hosts Sri Lanka face New Zealand tomorrow in a now or never decisive must win super eight match at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium if Dasun Shanaka and his team are to revive their cup hopes of the 10th edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup following a bad 51 run defeat to England in their first game two days ago in Pallekelle.
Of course, the Lankans will have to play their best cricket, particularly the frontline batsmen if Sri Lanka is to outgun a strong New Zealand outfit whose only defeat in their group was against South Africa.
The Lankan batters have produced the type of batting that kept them leading Group B throughout before losing to Zimbabwe followed by a bad hounding by England.
The loss to England from a winning position has been a blow to the Lankans Shanaka and his charges will need to rise from, particularly the frontline batsmen who will have to bat more purposefully putting their country above every other thing if they are to get the better of a strong New Zealand side whose only bad chapter in the tournament has been the loss to South Africa.
In pulling their socks up in the Lankan camp, the selectors will also have to do so as much as head coach Sanath Jayasuriya and the captain in respect of cementing the opening slot where they got their act all wrong in axing Kusal Janith Perera for a flagging Kamil Mishara despite a fair 22 by Perera against Zimbabwe where he played some crisp boundaries before top edging one behind trying to force the pace.
Had Kusal Janith had been continued with it would have been a confidence booster that could well have made the difference against England.
As it is pursuing with a let down Kamil Mishara has not done Sri Lanka’s cause any good as the hosts pitch for that final clanging to stay on course.
