England favourite against dark horse Sri Lanka

A win for Sri Lanka could throw Group A wide open, but the batsmen need to put up a better show

A dismal net run rate makes things fairly straightforward for Sri Lanka – lose to England, and the team may as well pack its bags. Given that England has won 16 and lost just six of 25 home One-Day Internationals since Alastair Cook took over the captaincy after the 2011 World Cup, you might think that the task in front of Angelo Mathews’ side at The Oval on Thursday (June 13) is even more intimidating.

But since it came of age as a team in the 1990s, Sri Lanka has won more than it has lost (9-8) against England in England. It led a five-match series two years ago, and lost only in a close finish at Old Trafford. The spinners have generally troubled English batsmen hesitant to leave the crease, while Lasith Malinga, who nearly pulled off a heist against New Zealand, has an outstanding record in the United Kingdom – 23 wickets at 21 from 11 games.

On an Oval surface where every team other than India has struggled so far in this competition, it’ll be Sri Lanka’s batting that comes under most scrutiny. New Zealand didn’t have to bowl especially well in Cardiff last weekend to topple Sri Lanka for 138. Mathews was diplomatic at the press conference, but some of the shot selection was awful, strokes played with no heed paid to the match situation.

The batsmen can do much better. Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal and Kumar Sangakkara all played innings of note on that 2011 tour, and Tillakaratne Dilshan can transform a game if he gets off to a flying start. What Sri Lanka will need is significant contributions from the likes of Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne, especially if the conditions continue to be gloomy and bowler-friendly.

The bowlers did superbly against New Zealand and the only choice Mathews faces is whether to stick with the extra pace of Shaminda Eranga, or bring in the more experienced Nuwan Kulasekara. Malinga and Rangana Herath will be the main threats, though England will be wary of Dilshan after his spell against New Zealand.

After the emphatic win against Australia, England’s preparation for this game was overshadowed by the David Warner-Joe Root story. England's bowling was exceptional in that game and though James Anderson and company may not find reverse swing so early at The Oval, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma showed that there’s enough in the pitch for those that bowl the right lengths.

With Graeme Swann fit again, James Tredwell will miss out. Swann will have enough left-handers to aim at, and it should be a keen contest against batsmen unlikely to allow him to settle.

England’s batting tends far more to the steady than the spectacular, though it’ll be fascinating to see how Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan deal with Malinga. Dishant Yagnik of Rajasthan Royals rattled him by taking guard way back in his crease, and if England has watched those tapes, you could well see something similar from Buttler, whose inventiveness has been a breath of fresh air in a team well stocked with those that play by the book.

England starts favourite, but with Malinga in the form that he is, all Sri Lanka need is for the top order to find some runs. That could really throw this group wide open.

Teams:
England (likely): Alastair Cook (capt), Ian Bell, Jonathan Trott, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler (wk), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson.

Sri Lanka (likely): Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga, Lasith Malinga.

Batsmen need to take responsibility, says Angelo Mathews

The Sri Lankan captain admits that England has one of the best seam attacks and his batsmen will need to rise to the occasion

Going into the game tomorrow, what would you say that you've done with the team since the last game?
Yeah, I mean, the failure after the last game, the camp is confident and the morale is very high. Defending 138 was, was ‑‑ the guys responded to that brilliantly. Yeah, it's simple as that. We've got two games, and it's pretty simple, we've got to win both to stay alive in the series.

Obviously the opposition is different, it's going to be England this time around. How different is it that you prepare against a team like England and what sort of challenges do they bring into the equation?
Yeah, we might have to rethink our strategies a little bit on these conditions, on this wicket, which has a little bit of bounce. So we might have to rethink our strategies a little bit, but I think the way we approach, we've got to stay as positive as possible and try and be ‑‑ try and take them on, because we know that we have to win to stay alive, and I think we shouldn't be putting a lot of pressure on us, we just have to go out there and enjoy and do the best we can, and the result will take care of itself.

We saw what happened to Australia when their great players stopped playing, they fell off a cliff. With India's great players retired they struggled but they've come back strong. Are we nearing a time when your three top players in that top order are retiring, or do you think they've got more time to go?
It's early. They've got more time to go, at least until the next workup, which is not far away. Yeah, I think it's a bit of a transition period for us, but I think we've got the talent, we've got the skill, it's just that competing against the best teams can take a lot out of the players, and it will be very demanding. So I think to stand up to those situations, you need a bit of experience, and I think we've got to be ‑‑ we've got to have the confidence in our players, and I'm sure that the team will rise up for the occasions.

Sri Lanka have really done well in ICC events before, but in particular in England they've struggled. What is the reason for that and what are you doing to avert that or rectify that so to speak in a very crucial game against England?
As I said before the start of the series, it's our history and this is a new series and we've got to take one game at a time. Yeah, the recent history against the English team in England isn't that good, but I think when it comes to a tournament like this, any team can beat any team. So we just need to try and be positive and focused and try and win tomorrow's game.

England's preparations have been completely overshadowed by the David Warner and Joe Root story. As a captain in this competition what have you made of that?
Well, it’s a Australian domestic issue and the Aussies have to decide, but I can't really comment on that. But I think we as players need to keep -- leave everything out to the side and focus on our game.

Can I just ask as a captain of the side if something like that happened to your side, how would you deal with something like that, obviously a very tricky, delicate issue?
Well, I think that's a decision that the management has to take, and I think the management differs from team to team. So, I don't really know if that situation happens in our team, but I'm pretty sure that it will not happen.

In past ICC events the middle order has been ‑‑ if there was any weakness on the Sri Lankan team it would have been the middle order. Is there a feeling that someone needs to take leadership in that middle order?
Yeah, I think the whole batting unit has to take responsibility. The whole batting unit when it comes to the top seven especially, we need to take responsibility on this because we can't really expect the bowlers to score runs for us. The bowlers, if we actually get to 250, 240, the bowlers will actually do the job for us. More often than not they have done the job for us, but I think it's pretty hard to ask the bowlers, as well. We as batters need to take responsibility on our batting.

A bit on James Anderson, the way, the kind of reverse swing that I'm sure you would have seen in videos, with two new balls especially to get that kind of reverse swing, first of all, how would you tackle that?
Well, it depends on the conditions to be honest, because on this wicket I doubt the reverse swing might come into play, but you never know, you can't really predict 100 per cent on anything. So yeah, they've got probably one of the best seam attacks going across in the world cricketing area, and we as batters, that's the challenge to overcome. They've got a few good fast bowlers, Anderson is one of them, as well, and he's been performing, so I think we as batters, we need to rise up to the occasion tomorrow.

Malinga's overall record here in England is pretty impressive. That must be heartening for you going as a captain into a crucial game?
Yeah, they always say he's our premier bowler, but we've got a few others, as well. We don't really bank on one bowler. We have the likes of Kulasekara, Eranga, Thisara, so we've got those seam options, as well, but I think Malinga is standing out of them, and Malinga is one of those players who knows exactly what he has to do in these conditions. And also he helps the other bowlers quite a lot, which is very important, so this is a team unit, and we need to help and support all the others.

Just going back to Mahela, he was out by a very good bowler, Daniel Vettori. Is he concerned at all, especially being in his 30s and coming out of that injury?
Not really. I mean, the three senior players that we've got is unbelievably experienced, and they know exactly how to prepare themselves. I mean, form is temporary and obviously the class is permanent, so we all know what kind of a player Mahela Jayawardene is and I'm pretty sure he'll rise up to the occasion tomorrow.

Australia, New Zealand left high and dry at wet Edgbaston

Teams share points after match is called off due to persistent rain

When the rains came down on Edgbaston 15 overs into New Zealand’s chase of 244 against Australia neither team had the match in the bag. In the end it was inconsequential, as the stipulated minimum of 20 overs in each innings had not been completed, and points were shared.

At the scheduled halfway mark, New Zealand would have backed itself to get to 244 given the presence of more than one explosive batsman in its midst. But, on a pitch that wasn’t exactly conducive to strokemaking, with a drizzle making matters worse, New Zealand lost its openers early in the piece, and hobbled to 51 for 2 from 15 overs.

Martin Guptill was undone by a delivery that gripped the pitch a touch and came to him slower than he expected, his attempted drive resulting in a thick edge to point. Luke Ronchi’s poor run with the bat since he began playing for New Zealand continued when he guided Clint McKay straight to gully. At 26 for 2, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor were entrusted with giving the chase direction. The pair managed to keep the bowlers at bay, but the rain ensured that their work in progress remained just that.

Earlier in the day, Australia, rocked by an incident that resulted in David Warner being stood down for Wednesday’s match, made sluggish progress. It managed 243 for 8 from 50 overs thanks mainly to half-centuries from George Bailey and Adam Voges. It wasn’t the worst score, but it certainly wasn’t one Australia would have been entirely confident of defending, at the break.

When it chose to bat first on a dry pitch Australia desperately needed Shane Watson to fire. With Warner missing, the only batsman who could have provided the required impetus at the top of the order needed to make his mark when it was genuinely needed. But, Watson fell before he could decide what approach to take, poking tentatively at Mitchell McClenaghan to be caught behind by Ronchi.

Phil Hughes, who would have struggled to make it to an Australian One-Day International eleven in most eras, continued to fall short, lasting four balls before being smartly run out by Guptill at cover when contemplating a sharp single.

At 10 for 2, Australia was put firmly on the back foot and it was there it stayed for the best part of the innings. Matthew Wade, who was given opening responsibilities, bedded down and tried to rebuild in the company of the industrious Bailey, who once again led the side in the continued absence of Michael Clarke through a back injury.

Wade consumed 57 balls for 29, and added 64 with Bailey for the third wicket before he was sent on his way, playing across a straight, flat one from Nathan McCullum to be easily adjudged lbw. To make a sticky situation worse Wade reviewed the decision, which stood after the television umpire had taken a look at the event.

Bailey continued to keep his end up, not attacking needlessly and Voges began to find his feet. New Zealand’s quick bowlers did not get much by way of assistance, and the spinners were played with caution. Bailey reached his sixth half-century in his 23rd game, but fell soon after, being beaten by a sharply turning offbreak from McCullum. Bailey was on 55, but had moved too far across his stumps and looked back in dismay as his leg stump was pegged back.

Mitchell Marsh tried to force the pace, but when he attempted a front-foot pull against a McClenaghan delivery that was too far outside off for the shot, the resultant top-edge was comfortably taken by Ronchi.

For the second time in the innings Australia had stumbled and, with only 193 on the board at the end of the 42^nd over, the last remaining hope of a big score was for the well-set Voges to bat through the innings. But, McClenaghan put paid to such thoughts with his third wicket off the innings, a lucky break that came through a full toss. Voges (71) tried to clatter the ball through the leg side, but only spliced it to short cover.

Glenn Maxwell pulled out the long handle at the death, and 18 came off the penultimate over, bowled by Williamson. McClenaghan, who became the highest wicket-taker in the tournament in the course of the innings, bowled a steady final over to keep Australia down to 243 for 8 in 50 overs.

Whether that would have been enough or not, we’ll never know.

Dhawan, Jadeja star in win over West Indies

India in semis on the back of Dhawan’s second consecutive hundred, Jadeja’s five-for; Pakistan knocked out

For nearly 20 overs at the start, and for five overs when Darren Sammy went ballistic, this was a decent contest. The rest of the time, India’s dominance was so overwhelming that the eight-wicket win – with a whopping 65 balls still remaining – didn’t flatter it in the slightest. Victory not only guaranteed a place in the semifinals, but also reduced Saturday’s much-anticipated clash with Pakistan to glorified warm-up status. Ravindra Jadeja, who finished with outstanding figures of 5 for 36, led a stirring fightback with the ball, while Shikhar Dhawan reduced the run chase to an easy stroll with his second century in as many matches.

Again, Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, who outscored him in a 101-run partnership, took the sting out of the new balls, ensuring that the batsmen who followed had to do little more than just knock it around into the gaps. On the eve of the match, Ottis Gibson, had said his bowlers would pitch the ball up and strive for swing. Instead, they produced a poor display of errant short-pitched bowling that India’s openers feasted on.

Dhawan wasn’t quite as aggressive as he had been against South Africa, but with just 234 to get, there was no need for a fifth gear. He and Rohit still needed only 93 balls for their partnership and when Virat Kohli followed up with a stroke-filled cameo of 22, the game was as good as up. Sunil Narine picked up both wickets to fall, having Rohit caught down the leg side – the original not-out decision was reversed after West Indies used the DRS – and Kohli bowled, but there was next to no menace from the other bowlers.

Dhawan was put down twice. Kieron Pollard couldn’t hold on to an extremely difficult chance while diving to his left at backward point, but Kemar Roach should have done better with a skied pull that slipped through his hands at backward square leg. Those blips aside, he struck the ball with great power and wonderful timing – cutting, pulling and driving with great finesse. He also produced the game’s wow moment, with the upper-cut behind square that brought up his hundred.

Dinesh Karthik added 109 with him in just 115 balls, and grew in confidence as the game wore on. The last stroke of the game, a loft over cover, got him to a 54-ball half-century.

When Chris Gayle – a cameo – and Johnson Charles stroked the ball with Caribbean flair, India’s decision to bowl first looked to have backfired spectacularly. Then, Jadeja, who enhances his reputation with every game, came on. Thereafter, India choked the West Indian innings like a boa constrictor does its prey, before Sammy smashed 56 from just 35 balls – 35 coming in the final two overs – to take the total to 233 for 9.

Jadeja, who finished with exceptional figures of 5 for 36, got wonderful support from Ishant Sharma and R Ashwin. Even Umesh Yadav, treated with disdain early on, returned to pick up the vital wicket of Dwayne Bravo. Until Sammy’s dramatic intervention, it hadn’t looked as though West Indies would even cross 200.

Under grey skies, there was nothing dull about the way in which Gayle began. Two pulls for four off Yadav and a booming drive off Ishant were followed by a three-iron-type biff straight back over Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s head. Two balls later though, Bhuvneshwar had his man, as a miscued cut flew high toward the slip cordon where Ashwin took a fine overhead catch.

Charles, however, was undaunted by Gayle’s exit, playing with a freedom and ability you wouldn’t normally associate with someone who averages 19 in first-class cricket. There were two mighty sixes down the ground, and he worked the ball deftly off his pads, both in front of and behind square. Even as Darren Bravo struggled for timing and fluency, the two added 78 in just 89 balls.

Charles eventually fell to Jadeja, trapped in front while playing across the line. He made 60 from 55 balls. In Jadeja’s next over, Aleem Dar turned down a leg-before shout against Marlon Samuels. India opted for the DRS, and with replays suggesting that the ball had struck pad before bat, the hero of the World Twenty20 triumph was sent on his way.

When Ramnaresh Sarwan was snaffled by Dhoni, trying to glance one down the leg side, West Indies had slumped to 109 for 4. Jadeja kept things tight, turned it very little and was clever enough with his variations in pace to make sure the batsmen couldn’t venture out confidently.

The two Bravos added 31, but laboured 55 balls over it. Ashwin ended Darren Bravo’s fitful innings with a beautifully flighted delivery, and with the Power Play taken, Dwayne Bravo hoicked Yadav to Jadeja on the deep midwicket fence.

Kieron Pollard made 22 before miscuing to long-on, and it was left to Sammy to take the team to a competitive total with his astonishing tour de force. It was nowhere near enough though, and West Indies will need to lift itself against South Africa on Friday (June 14). The winner will join India in the last four.

The bowlers were absolutely brilliant: Mathews

Sri Lanka captain says he misread pitch, and praises team for fighting hard in loss against New Zealand

"Sri Lanka captain Angelo Matthews talks to the media."-

Angelo, bad luck, but great performance by the bowlers.  Don't you think it took Malinga a little later on before getting 2 overs to Thisara and Shaminda, don't you think you should have brought in Malinga before that?
Not really. We still had about 30-40 runs to play with.  We just thought that they would have taken the powerplay a bit later, so I just had Lasith Malinga in my tank.  But, yeah, we can't really say yes or no, but that's the way it is.  Unfortunately, we couldn't pull it through in the end.

Angelo… how disappointed were you by some of the shots that were played?
Not really; we could have toughened up a little bit more.  I thought we could have had about 30, 40 runs.  It will be in a different 30, but I thought the bowlers were absolutely brilliant, backed up by fielding.

Angelo, Lasith is one of those cricketers at home who gets his motions questioned the most.  But today he came out and played like that; what do you have to say about that?
Yeah, that shows what kind of character he has.  I mean, he's such a tough guy mentally and physically, and he knows exactly what to do in these situations.  He's so professional.  He knows about his stuff.  He's a premium bowler and you've got to accept it.  Whatever has been done, he's our main bowler, so he's dealing with runs again and hats off to him.

Dilshan couldn't do as well with the bat today, but he seems to find ways of contributing no matter.  In all cricket, he was fielding and bowling today as well.
Yeah, except for a couple of guys, everyone couldn't really do with the bat, to be honest.  I thought I kind of misread the wicket.  But, yeah, I thought it might get slower and slower as the game progresses, but it kind of dried up a little bit and was a bit easier, slightly easier than the first session.  But, yeah, once again, Dilshan bowled.  He did a very good job.  We didn't have to play another 300 because of Dilshan.  So he's such a wonderful teammate and guy to have on the team.

The wicket of Kane Williamson seemed to be the one that sort of sparked you and fired you up.  Could you talk about that?  You took about three wickets in about eight balls in that little passage.
Yeah, definitely, we didn't have much runs to play with, so we just had to go for the kill.  The bowlers responded brilliantly.  Shaminda Eranga bowled brilliantly and Malinga once again did a fantastic job, and all the spinners, whoever who bowled today was absolutely brilliant, backed up by fielding.  So it was an encouraging performance and a boosting performance for the whole team.

Angelo, it was your first match in a really high pressure situation as captain, were you running the show or leaning on advice from some of the older hands on the team?
Yeah, obviously, I got a lot of support and advice from all the seniors.  Special thanks to them.  They were throwing their ideas on the table, and I just had to pick and choose.  Yeah, lot of support from all the players.

You had a couple of batting sessions in England and the last ones have shown fragility with their batting.  Did you think that perhaps if you could get few of these on a roll that with the batting side you could step up?
Absolutely.  We were talking about getting wickets early on and try to push them on the back foot, which we exactly did.  We just had to take a few more wickets to be in the game, and we did them exactly.  So, yeah, they are a very hard team to beat, but I thought we played some really good cricket today.

There were a couple of umpiring decisions that went against you.  To what extent do you think they had an impact on the results?
Obviously that decision was very crucial and it was pretty obvious that it was out.  You know, the luck streams both ways and it's just one of those days that we didn't have the decision come our way.  But it changed the whole finale of the game.  It would have been all over.

Can you tell us about you had an extended discussion with Tim Southee after that which went on for quite a while.  Could you give us some insight into what was going on there?
It was just the heat of the moment.  It was all good.  We're good friends on and off the field, but it was one of those things that came up on the heat.  So it was all good.

New Zealand scrapes home in thriller

After super bowling and mediocre batting by both teams, Sri Lanka goes down by one wicket in nail-biting finish

New Zealand bowled and fielded brilliantly, went to lunch with not a care and then came back to find the bottom falling out of its innings in its ICC Champions Trophy match against Sri Lanka at Cardiff on Sunday (June 9). Needing just 139 to win, it squeaked home with just a wicket to spare. The climax was farcical, with Tillakaratne Dilshan bowling a wide down the leg side even as Mitchell McClenaghan and Tim Southee hared back and forth with two needed for the win.

Sri Lanka had the outstanding batting and bowling performers in the match – Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga – but still finished on the losing side after a batting display that was marked by poor shot selection.

There was little hint of the drama to come when New Zealand went to lunch at 26 for 1, having taken just 37.5 overs to bowl Sri Lanka out. Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson made steady progress after lunch before an extraordinary error of judgment gave Sri Lanka a route back into the game.

Malinga bowled a slow loopy full toss, and Williamson ducked, perhaps anticipating a beamer. Struck on the thigh pad with the ball dipping, he was clearly out. The mistake was compounded by a needless review, which would cost New Zealand dearly later.

Rangana Herath trapped Ross Taylor in front in the next over, and Eranga, returning for a new spell, surprised Guptill with some extra bounce, the awkward fend brilliantly caught by a leaping Mahela Jayawardena at slip. In eight balls, New Zealand had lost three wickets for a run.

James Franklin added 21 with Brendon McCullum, but the pressure was mounting, with Sri Lanka appealing vociferously each time the ball went near the pads. Dilshan’s plea against Franklin was eventually heard and New Zealand appeared to be down for the count when the umpire missed the inside edge on to Daniel Vettori’s pad after Malinga had returned for another spell.

With the tension building and Dilshan in the middle of a six-over spell that cost just eight, the McCullum brothers slowly pushed ahead. Nathan was the more aggressive, while Brendon turned over the strike cleverly. Angelo Mathews elected for Eranga and Thisara Perera when both Malinga and Herath had overs in hand, and New Zealand was once again the favourite by the time the change was finally made.

In his first over back, Malinga produced a 120-kph slower ball to bowl Brendon McCullum. In his next over, a yorker that was 20 kph faster did for the other brother, trapped in front with 17 still needed.

Southee and Kyle Mills then rode their luck to within five of the target – Southee was given four after a Malinga yorker thudded into his boot – before Sri Lanka had some good fortune of its own. Perera at mid-on had a shy at the bowler’s end, missed by plenty, and was then mobbed by teammates as the ball dislodged the bails at the striker’s end with Mills well short.

Having decided to bat first on the pitch used for the India-South Africa game on Thursday, Sri Lanka started dreadfully. Mills and Brendon McCullum set the tone with the very first ball. Kusal Perera flashed at one that darted away from him, and McCullum flew to his left to take a stupendous two-handed catch while airborne.

Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara added 27 in even time before a lazy stroke saw Dilshan bowled by Mitchell McClenaghan. With Jayawardena at the crease, Brendon McCullum called on the returning Daniel Vettori, who had dismissed Jayawardena five times previously. Four balls were all it took, and though Jayawardena thought about reviewing the lbw decision, a chat with Sangakkara convinced him that it was pointless.

Dinesh Chandimal hung his bat out to give Mills a second wicket, and it was left to Mathews to try and give Sangakkara the support he needed. With the accent on recovery, it wasn’t a rapid partnership, but it looked to be taking Sri Lanka to respectability until Mathews shuffled too far across to McClenaghan and saw his leg stump uprooted.

New Zealand fielded superbly, cutting off several singles, and it was the perfect foil for a bowling unit that gave little away. Both Vettori and Nathan McCullum were tidy and restrictive on a responsive pitch, while the pace trio threatened constantly.

An awful yes-no-yes mix-up saw Lahiru Thirimanne run out, and Sangakkara seemed to take out his frustration on Williamson, smacking three fours in the same over.

Perera should have gone without scoring, but Southee put down a relatively straightforward caught-and-bowled chance. That reprieve allowed him to add 36 with Sangakkara, the highest stand of the innings, before an impetuous hoick found only deep mid-on.

Sangakkara himself finally succumbed to an undistinguished slog, caught by Williamson at backward point off Nathan McCullum’s bowling for 68, and the rest folded accordion-style as New Zealand wrapped things up early enough for them to be asked to bat before lunch. What followed was just manic.

Cardiff hosts the overachievers

New Zealand is the team in form but Sri Lanka will be quietly confident and will back its tried-and-tested methods to put up a strong show

They may not get the media attention that some other sides do, but both Sri Lanka and New Zealand have considerable pedigree when it comes to ICC tournaments. Sri Lanka was the losing finalist at the World Cup in both 2007 and 2011. On both occasions, it beat New Zealand in the semifinal. As for New Zealand, winner of the ICC KnockOut – the precursor to the Champions Trophy – in 2000, it can also point to the last final of this competition, where it finished second best to Australia.

It was once easy to dismiss Sri Lanka as a side that thrived only in subcontinent-like conditions. But this decade, it has won more than it has lost in Australia (9-8) and the bowling strategy is no longer based on the wonder spin of Muttiah Muralitharan.

The United Kingdom, though, hasn’t seen Sri Lanka’s best cricket. In the 38 matches it has played here, only 15 have been won. New Zealand, by contrast, has a winning record, and has compiled impressive 10-3 stats since the turn of the millennium. It also leads Sri Lanka 13-12 in matches played on neutral soil, and comes into this game on the back of a series win against England. 

On a Cardiff Wales Stadium pitch where spinners had a big say when India played South Africa, Sri Lanka may go back to tried-and-tested methods on Sunday (June 9). Both Rangana Herath and Sachithra Senanayake will likely play, with Angelo Mathews, the captain, and Thisara Perera providing pace back-up for Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara.

Kusal Perera offers a stroke-filled, albeit inexperienced, option at the top of the order, but it will be the experienced trio of Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara that are central to Sri Lankan hopes of success. If they can get the team through the tricky phase against the two new balls, Mathews, Perera and Dinesh Chandimal are more than capable of signing off in emphatic style.

Ranged against them is a New Zealand side that bowled beautifully against England, both home and away. Trent Boult, the most impressive of a young pack of pace bowlers, has gone home, but Mitchell McClenaghan, who replaced him, is even quicker. If Daniel Vettori recovers from an Achilles problem – and Brendon McCullum seemed confident that he would – he and Nathan McCullum will offer the spin complement for the pace strengths.

Grant Elliott is unlikely to be fit on time – he has a tight calf – and that could mean an opportunity for Colin Munro. New Zealand certainly hasn’t been short of runs, with Martin Guptill in resplendent form and Ross Taylor rediscovering his. There are question marks over Luke Ronchi at the top of the order, after 24 runs in three matches against England, and Malinga will no doubt target him early on.

This is Sri Lanka’s only day match of the group stage – it hasn’t won under lights in four previous attempts in England – and in conditions that are far more likely to suit its brand of cricket. With two explosive openers in the ranks, Mathews suggested that there would be no holding back, but it’s with the ball that Sri Lanka will need to find inspiration.

Mathews was not amused by suggestions that Malinga was carrying too much weight, but with several key players sitting on the sidelines for their IPL franchises, the build-up to this tournament has been far from ideal. New Zealand is the team in form, but with enough old hands in their ranks, Sri Lanka will be quietly confident of extending its dominance at this level.  

Teams
Sri Lanka (likely XI): Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (capt), Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga.
New Zealand (likely XI): Martin Guptill, Luke Ronchi (wk), Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Colin Munro, Brendon McCullum (capt), James Franklin, Nathan McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee, Mitchell McClenaghan.

We cannot be complacent: Mathews

The preparation has been good, but it is crunch time now, says the Sri Lankan skipper

Angelo, even in the best days with Muralitharan, Sri Lankan cricket had a reputation for being strongest at home.  In recent times you got really good results in Australia and South Africa, are you looking forward to these conditions? Because the makeup of this team seems to have changed a bit, it's not spin heavy anymore?
We've still got some really good spinners on the team in (Indiscernible) and the guys we have now. But, yeah, I think we've been consistent in especially -- people keep talking, saying that we've been consistent in ICC events, but I think that's the past.  I think we need to move on and try to take one game at a time and not look too far ahead.

Angelo, the two practice games, how much importance is attached to coming to the tournament proper?
Definitely it was very important for us. We didn’t start on one practice game, unfortunately, but we had some good preparation. We were not worried about the results; we just wanted to get some good opportunity for all of the guys or rather most of the guys to feel the conditions, to try to get used to the conditions, and we did. I thought we had some good preparation but now it's crunch time.

In both the practice matches Mahela came in at number three. Is that something you're looking to carry on in the tournament and what is the thinking behind that?
 We haven't decided on our batting order, but we just wanted to try him at number three, but we still haven't decided on how we are about to go tomorrow. But, definitely there are more experienced players. They've been here, they've done it, so we are trying to look at them doing the job for us at the top.

This is, I believe, Sri Lanka's first match with the new rules.  How much have you been able to interpret those rules?
We've played a few with the new rules. Yeah, it is not really easy, but I think with the new rules we are playing to think one step ahead all the time. It keeps you on your toes on your 50 overs. Yeah, when it comes to the new rules once again, it's not easy (no audio), so we haven't make it too complicated (no audio).

Just wanted to ask you, does the knockout nature of this tournament, does that put extra pressure on teams, because you know that one slip‑up and you could find it difficult to stay on in the tournament? Does it put extra pressure in that sense?
Definitely. Not only for us, but I think all the teams are here to achieve one goal, and all of the teams feel that pressure. So I think it's up to each individual how to go about the pressure, and I think in this tournament it's going to be really important to start it well. The start is going to be very important.

How important is it the roles of all‑rounders in these conditions, and also with the new rules how do you see your role in the set up?
Yeah, I think all‑rounders are always valuable for a team when it comes to the shorter form as always and the longer format. I think if you have some general all‑rounders on the team whom you feel can do the job, it's always beneficial to have them on the team.
          
I think as of now we are not looking at anything unusual, but planning to get the maximum out of all the players. The 15 can walk into the site any given day. So we're not looking at individuals, but we are looking to perform as a collective unit.

Looking at Sri Lanka's recent record in ICC tournaments, obviously, finalists in the last World Cup, finalists in the T20, you seem to have quite a task living up to those standards as the new captain?
Well, yeah. As I always say, as people keep saying we've done pretty well in the recent past, that's past. I think as a team we still have to go a long way, but we are not looking too far ahead.  It will be in the back our mind, but we just want to try to take one game at a time and try to win from the first game.

I was talking with (Indiscernible) about Lasith Malinga, and we were talking about how unbelievable it is that he get that's yorker in, and he said something interesting.  He said it's interesting, because he's put on a bit of weight recently, he said he thinks he's better when he's got less weight.  It's difficult to talk about other individuals, but do you have any words on that?
Well, he hasn't ‑‑ well, to me he hasn't put on that much weight. He's very professional the way he goes about things and he knows exactly what to do and how to do it. He's a premium bowler, and he gets the bowling in it with him. He helps quite a lot.  He works with all the bowlers and he tries to give the maximum each time he walks into the middle.

Maybe it's muscle?
Maybe muscle, yeah.

How much do you use spin to get the New Zealanders out given how they've looked quite vulnerable to it in the past?
Yeah, on this pitch, the spinners might come into play. It looks like it's going to be slow as the game goes on, and the spinners might come into play. But I think we've always had the four seamers and the two all‑rounders. But we've got our options open.
          
We still haven't decided on who is playing tomorrow. But, I think, definitely with the fast bowlers there will be a lot of variations to play.

You've had a good run against the New Zealanders in recent times, but they're going to the tournament having won a series in England. How do you assess them as an opposition?
efinitely, they are a very dangerous side to beat, and it's a very hard team to beat as well because they've gotten used to the conditions and played some very good games in the recent past against the English team. Yeah, I mean, we can't be complacent. We've got to be ready to go from ball one.
          
You know, we know what they can do. They can, on any given day, any team can beat any team. So the best playing ‑‑ the best eight teams are going to have to have a chance. It's whoever plays best on that day.

Having three former captains and Dinesh and T20 captain on the same side, is it a good thing, and how much do you lean on them for advice considering the amount of experience these guys have as captain?
Yeah, definitely. If you take Mahela, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, they have had more than 1,000 ODIs between them and they have a lot of experience. Yeah, it's always good to have the past captains on the team whom you can rely on. So, it's going to be a huge advantage for me as well.

A lot of the other teams with the new rules are talking about conserving wickets early and playing safe in the first 10 overs, but Sri Lanka have two very aggressive openers. What do you think about that, and are you looking back to that '96 blueprint when Sri Lanka last lifted a major trophy?
Yeah, we'll try to look to play the way we are capable to play cricket, and I think if we can do our things properly and if we can do our things right, we've got a couple of dashing openers at the top. So we are not trying to change too much of them.
          
We'll let them play how they've been used to playing and the rest of the few players who can consolidate in the middle, and we've got a few power hitters as well at the back end. So we've got a pretty balanced team, so we'll see how it goes.

Do you have any plans for Martin Guptill?
Yeah, definitely. He's been in tremendous form lately. He got a couple of honors against the English team. So we've set a few plans.  Well, as I said before, we're not looking at any individual in a team. If we focus on Martin Guptill only, someone else will come in and do the job for them. So we are looking at all their top seven batters, and we can't be complacent once again, as I said before.


What are your thoughts on Ross Taylor and his form of late?
Definitely he's been ‑‑ well, he's come back to form as well. He's a very dangerous player, and we all know what he can do.  So, yeah, as I said before, we've got plans for all of them. It's just that we need to try to execute them on the field.

CL 2013 Match 3, England vs Australia, Edgbaston, Birmingham