The furore around Angelo Mathews' 'timed out' dismissal has not died down yet, but Sri Lanka have another match - their last game of ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - on their hands. The Kusal Mendis-led side is taking on the faltering New Zealand in Bengaluru on Thursday, October 9. (Match Blog |Scorecard | Streaming | Preview | Full Coverage)
Mathews' dismissal, which was enforced by Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan without any hesitation, sparked up conversations around that mysterious entity called the Spirit Of Cricket. It also incensed Mathews himself, who launched a tirade against what he felt was a "disgraceful" move by the Bangla Tigers. The entire Lankan team refused to shake hands with their opponents after the game, and the incident might have spurred them on to go the extra mile in their final game.
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While Sri Lanka have already been knocked out of contention for a semi-final berth, New Zealand find themselves in a diametrically different position from where they were, four matches ago. Losing their fourth match on the trot might have demoralized the Kane Williamson-led team, especially after putting 401 runs on the board in the first innings.
But if there is one thing the Kiwis (and Williamson in particular) are known for, it is their grit and fighting spirit. And hence they would be eager to turn the tide and return to winning ways when they take on Sri Lanka. It is a must-win game for New Zealand if they are to qualify for semi-finals, so they have no choice but to give it their all.
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With that, here's a look at three key battles that could influence the outcome of the NZ vs SL game:
Rachin Ravindra Vs Dilshan Madushanka
The 23-year-old Indian-origin southpaw Rachin Ravindra has been the brightest young batting talent of the 2023 ODI World Cup. With tons against England, Australia and Pakistan, he has become the first-ever cricketer to score three centuries on ODI World Cup debut. He will be hoping to continue the good run but it won't be easy against left-arm medium pacer Dilshan Madushanka, who is currently the highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 21 scalps. The battle of the southpaws promises to be an intriguing one, especially if takes place in the first 10 overs of the Kiwi innings.
Pathum Nissanka Vs Trent Boult
Sri Lanka's top-order batter Pathum Nissanka has had a good World Cup so far, as he has amassed 330 runs in eight games with an average of 47.14, including four back-to-back half centuries. The 25-year-old right-hander will seek to replicate his sucess against the Kiwi bowling line-up, but he will have to contend with the guile and genuine swing capabilities of Trent Boult. The senior pro has had an underwhelming World Cup by his tall standards so far, but he has the wealth of experience and skills that can come in handy at any point of time.
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Sadeera Samarawickrama Vs Mitchell Santner
Right-handed middle-order batter Sadeera Samarawickrama has been among the runs, and seems to be enjoying the Indian conditions. He is Sri Lanka's highest run-getter in the tournament this far, with 372 runs at a supreme average of 62, including a century against Pakistan. The 28-year-old would like to stamp his authority one more time, but doing that against Kiwi spin-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner is fraught with risk. The left-armer has the discipine and the craft to bamboozle any batter in the limited-overs format, which is evidenced by the 14 wickets he has bagged in the World Cup so far.
