Sri Lanka set exam for NZ

ST GEORGE’S – New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming believes his side can win the World Cup: their Super Eights match against fellow contenders Sri Lanka today will go a long way to seeing if he is right.

The Black Caps – like defending champions Australia unbeaten at the tournament so far – top the Super Eights table on run-rate. But unlike Australia, who’ve beaten South Africa, and are chasing an unprecedented third straight title, they’ve yet to come up against a leading one-day international side at this event although they did defeat England by six wickets in their opening group match.One more victory will see New Zealand, yet to win the World Cup, into the last four.Thursday’s match marks the start of a run of games that sees them up against 1996 champions Sri Lanka, South Africa and Australia in the space of 10 days in Grenada.New Zealand are now just one short of equalling their 10-match winning run of 2004, having already beaten Australia three times at home before coming to the Caribbean.However, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene for one believes New Zealand have yet to be tested at this tournament.Hosts New Zealand, third in the International Cricket Council (ICC) one-day ratings, and fourth-placed Sri Lanka squared a five-match series 2-2 in January after the final game was washed out.But the balance of Thursday’s match could swing New Zealand’s way before a ball is bowled if Lasith Malinga is ruled out.Sri Lanka’s fast bowling ace missed practice Tuesday after sustaining ligament damage in his left ankle during an earlier training session.Malinga, whose round-arm action makes him difficult to face – New Zealand asked umpires to put sweaters round their waists to act as an additional sightscreen last time they played against him – tops the tournament bowling averages with 15 wickets at an average of under 15.And against South Africa his record-breaking four wickets in four balls so nearly saw Sri Lanka to a stunning win.And their attack will still include left-arm quick Chaminda Vaas and incomparable off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, both World Cup winners.Sri Lanka’s two most recent one-day wins against New Zealand featured major contributions from opener Sanath Jayasuriya – 111 in Napier and 70 in Auckland.Nampa-AFPBut unlike Australia, who’ve beaten South Africa, and are chasing an unprecedented third straight title, they’ve yet to come up against a leading one-day international side at this event although they did defeat England by six wickets in their opening group match.One more victory will see New Zealand, yet to win the World Cup, into the last four.Thursday’s match marks the start of a run of games that sees them up against 1996 champions Sri Lanka, South Africa and Australia in the space of 10 days in Grenada.New Zealand are now just one short of equalling their 10-match winning run of 2004, having already beaten Australia three times at home before coming to the Caribbean.However, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene for one believes New Zealand have yet to be tested at this tournament.Hosts New Zealand, third in the International Cricket Council (ICC) one-day ratings, and fourth-placed Sri Lanka squared a five-match series 2-2 in January after the final game was washed out.But the balance of Thursday’s match could swing New Zealand’s way before a ball is bowled if Lasith Malinga is ruled out.Sri Lanka’s fast bowling ace missed practice Tuesday after sustaining ligament damage in his left ankle during an earlier training session.Malinga, whose round-arm action makes him difficult to face – New Zealand asked umpires to put sweaters round their waists to act as an additional sightscreen last time they played against him – tops the tournament bowling averages with 15 wickets at an average of under 15.And against South Africa his record-breaking four wickets in four balls so nearly saw Sri Lanka to a stunning win.And their attack will still include left-arm quick Chaminda Vaas and incomparable off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, both World Cup winners.Sri Lanka’s two most recent one-day wins against New Zealand featured major contributions from opener Sanath Jayasuriya – 111 in Napier and 70 in Auckland.Nampa-AFP