New Zealand, Sri Lanka in an early battle to get first points

Two teams. Contrasting ones that.

New Zealand have been termed the perennial bridesmaids. They have graced every T20 World Cup. They have some of the best performers in the side when it comes to the global tournament. Suzie Bates is the leading scorer in the tournament by some distance, while Sophie Devine is among the top ten wicket-takers in the competition. Yet the title of ‘World Champions’ has eluded them.

At the other end of the horizon are Sri Lanka, who have appeared in all the six editions of the tournament, but have just seven wins in 24 matches. Udeshika Prabodhani is the most experienced player in the squad with 21 World Cup appearances and also leads their bowling charts with 18 wickets.

Shashikala Siriwardene, Sri Lanka’s original superstar, is the next with 12 wickets. Along with captain Chamari Atapattu, Siriwardene will be key to Sri Lanka’s progress in the tournament. What will please them is the commanding win in the warm-up against England, with Atapattu smashing an unbeaten 78. It remains to be seen if that was the one big innings that the world tournaments are used to seeing from the Lankan skipper.

“All their bowlers are really good but Lea is something else bowling 120+ - she is really quick,” Atapattu said. “I enjoyed my batting against England. I played my natural and normal game and that gave us a positive start. The Australian conditions are great for batters with the bounce, I really enjoy them. During our last tour against Australia, I scored two centuries and I am confident that I will continue my form.”

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The WACA in Perth, formerly known to one of the paciest tracks in the world, will play host to the clash. The track could get slower, given that West Indies and Thailand would have played a game there earlier.

“We feel we are a great side and on our day we’ll be a huge threat. We can go deep to this tournament if we stick to what our strengths are,” Devine said on Friday (February 21). “I think it’s a really special feeling to feel nervous, it’s something that you take on board but if you say that you aren’t nervous, I’m not sure you care as much because the opportunity to play at a World Cup is a very special time for everyone involved.”

One, or two, of the Kiwis’ key players could be the Kerr sisters. While Amelia, the leg-spinner, would hold the ace on a slow track, her elder sister Jess would want to make her presence felt at the big stage. What will be interesting to see about them would be their combination at the top. Will they go with Rachel Priest and Sophie Devine? Will the Smash Sisters walk out to open? Or will Maddy Green make an appearance?

The answers to these queries will be revealed on Saturday.

Squads

New Zealand: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Rachel Priest, Lea Tahuhu.

Sri Lanka: Chamari Atapattu (c), Harshitha Madavi, Anushka Sanjeewani, Hansima Karunaratne, Shashikala Siriwardene, Nilakshi de Silva, Ama Kanchana, Kavisha Dilhari, Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Hasini Perera, Sathya Sandeepani, Umesha Thimashini, Sugandika Kumari, Dilani Manodara.