World Cup 2015: Sri Lanka’s miserable run in Kiwi-land continues

Sri Lanka failed to give a strong fight to a ruthless New Zealand in Christchurch.

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Sri Lanka started well but soon their innings fell apart. With their top-order surrendering meekly, it was too much to ask for from their out-of-form batting line up. (Source: AP)

It was inevitable. Sri Lanka losing another match against New Zealand in New Zealand. It has been 57 days since they landed in the Kiwi-land and have played Tests and ODIs. But this loss will matter more than any of the previous ones. A World Cup opening match sets your momentum for the tournament and Sri Lanka were on the wrong side of it. (Full Coverage| Venues | Fixtures)

New Zealand on the other hand showed that they have done their homework and they have a team that is ready for every challenge. In this World Cup, they have become the favourites from their traditional tag of dark horses.

Sri Lanka’s misery

When captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and elected to bowl first on an overcast day, bowlers should have backed the decision and provided their captain an early breakthrough. But Brendon McCullum had other plans. He blasted 59 off 46 balls, all thanks to some list-less bowling. Their frontline pacer, Lasith Malinga failed and how dearly. He conceded 84 runs from his 10 overs while Nuwan Kulasekara conceded 78 from eight overs. Malinga conceded more than 80 runs in an ODI for the sixth time on Saturday. It is surprising because no other bowler has done that more than thrice.

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PHOTOS: New Zealand kick off World Cup 2015 campaign in style

These figures show that Sri Lankan bowlers failed to adjust to conditions and there were signs of nerves. New Zealand played it like any other match.

READ: Brendon McCullum, Corey Anderson set up comprehensive win

Anderson show

The highlight of the match has to be Corey Anderson’s 46-ball 75. He came, he smashed and took New Zealand to 331. Jeevan Mendis dropped him and that was the only chance he gave. He was rampant, punishing the bowlers and scoring most runs down the ground. Sri Lanka’s sloppy fielding gave New Zealand batsmen the extra run every now and then but Anderson was happy scoring the runs through the boundaries. He hit eight fours and two sixes in his innings.

Remember he is an all-rounder? He finished with 2 for 18 in his 3.1 overs.

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If New Zealand want to win the Cup, Anderson is the key man along with Brendon McCullum.

New Zelaand middle it

What if your middle-order fails? What if it clicks? The latter was the case with New Zealand, After a great opening stand, the batsmen didn’t lose the plot. They carried on the good work and made sure that New Zealand cross the 300-run mark.

On the other hand, Sri Lankan middle-order never got going. As has been the case for quite some time, Sri Lanka is over-dependent on Tilakratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakarra. And, when it comes to chases, Mathews is the man they all up to. Sunday, Sri Lanka’s number four, five and six batsmen made a total of 60 runs. It is not just this match. In the last six Sri Lanka-New Zealand ODIs, Sri Lankan number 4, 5 and six batsmen’s highest total in a match is 113 which came in the SL-NZ ODI series 4th match.

Sri Lanka need to address this issue and one more – they don’t have a stable middle-order.

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New Zealand have begin well but as they say – well begun is half done! They not only need to maintain this form but make sure that the expectations not get into their head because after today’s game they (expectations) are bound to rise.