Mar 29 - Sri Lanka v New Zealand (Semi-Final 1)

[Lassana Dias]

How are we chokers? We've lost all our semifinal appearances, yes, but that doesn't make us chokers. We're never in a winning position in any of those games.

thats true!!! i think NZ is Over achievers then chokers for sure, and you are not beating SA in that ever!!!! not now not ever

 

[Aoun13]

NZ are no way "chokers", they always perform more then one could expect from them.

 

[Howsie]

yeah, I just read jayawardena's column mentioning this 2007 SF. pretty modest of him not to talk about himself because I remember that century he scored there and it was fantastic. genuinely one of the best one day innings I've ever seen. wickets were falling all over the place and he only scored 15 or so runs off his first 50 balls preserving his wicket, then he added almost single handedly added a 100 runs to their total in the last 10 overs. under that pressure it was genius.

Yeah, it was definitely one of the best one day knocks I've ever seen. Such a shame he had to play it against New Zealand

 

[Gurjot95]

Yeah, NZ are definitely not chokers. Chokers means to lose the match in a winning position but they never were in any of semifinal

 

[SaiSrini]

Sri Lanka should win this comfortably. Playing at home and against a team thats not well known to go beyond the semifinals, its SL game to be lost.

 

[CG123]

The key for us will probably be early wickets, i.e. Sri Lanka's top four. Like South Africa, Sri Lanka have a middle order that can collapse. Lets be honest here, Samaraweera and Silva are decent players, but they're no where near world class ODI standard, and they're the only weak links I can see in this Sri Lankan side.

Also they do only play four specialist bowlers, so we can't allow Dilshan to get through cheap overs, but at the same time we can't allow him to take wickets. Also if we can get into their middle to lower order, with four specialist bowlers it will keep us in their innings longer as if someones on fire they could potentially lose their last five wickets for not many.

Sri Lanka without Murali would be a real real bonus, but I assume he'll play even if he can't field, as he's given us all sorts of problems in the past.

If McCullum doesn't do anything here he has to go back down the order, as he's not doing what an opener should do and score reasonably consist runs at the top. Guptill will more than likely struggle against their spin. Ryder and Taylor are both going to be wildcards who on their day could win us the match. Styris hasn't done much this World Cup, but down at five it doesn't give him much opportunity, this match could be his for the taking though as he's known to preform well under pressure.

Like the South Africa match, the heart says New Zealand, but the head says South Africa.

 

[Iridium]

Like the South Africa match, the heart says New Zealand, but the head says South Africa.

Couldn't put it better myself. Although I think you do mean Sri Lanka and not South Africa. We've already disposed of them

 

[Paki007]

Still SL don't go flat like SA do.I would call this game 80% in the favor of SL.

 

[Aditya]

What if McCullum and Ryder put up a 150 run partnership and New Zealand put up a good total on the board, say 280 to 300. Plus adding 20-40 more runs to this total due to their brilliance in the field. Am I expecting too much from New Zealand?

 

[Paki007]

Am I expecting too much from New Zealand?

honestly yes

Well SL's strength is their Spin bowling i don't think that Nzl can put up a 150 opening p'ship in front of a good spin unit of SL.Generally they feel comfortable against the seam but when it comes o spin,some of them hesitate a bit

 

[crazyrahul]

It would be easier for Ind or Pak if New Zealand come in Final, but it would be tougher for Ind or Pak if Sri Lanka come in Final.

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What if McCullum and Ryder put up a 150 run partnership and New Zealand put up a good total on the board, say 280 to 300. Plus adding 20-40 more runs to this total due to their brilliance in the field. Am I expecting too much from New Zealand?

honestly yes

Well SL's strength is their Spin bowling i don't think that Nzl can put up a 150 opening p'ship in front of a good spin unit of SL.Generally they feel comfortable against the seam but when it comes o spin,some of them hesitate a bit

Leave spinners, Malinga and Matthews will take wickets of McCullum & Guptill in first 10 overs only. Murali will take Ryder. It depends on how Taylor and NZ middle-order + tail enders play to Sri Lanka's spin department in middle overs.

 

[Lassana Dias]

its bit overcast here. i hope it will not rain

 

[Haarithan]

To me , this is the most one sided affair in this tournament let alone the SL-ENG QF match

 

[Lassana Dias]

To me , this is the most one sided affair in this tournament let alone the SL-ENG QF match

i dont think kiwis will go down without a fight

 

[Paki007]

To me , this is the most one sided affair in this tournament let alone the SL-ENG QF match

You forgot about Pak-WI