How New Zealand clinically bolstered their semifinal prospects | Cricket-world-cup News
Thursday was a momentous occasion for three teams involved in the semi-final race. One that was playing, New Zealand, and the two that were not, Pakan and Afghanan.
the end of the evening, New Zealand all but ended the race, and have one foot in the semi-final following a thumping five-wicket win over Sri Lanka. The massive win means Pakan have to bat first and score 300 runs before dismissing England for 13 to reach the semi-final. Or if they bowl first, have to skittle out England for 50 runs and chase the target in 2.3 overs. Unless they achieve this outlandish equation, India will face New Zealand in the repeat of the 2019 World Cup semi-final, at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday..
As Bengaluru woke up to steady rain in the morning, New Zealand’s hopes appeared bleak. Even when they arrived at the stadium around noon, covers were in place as thick dark clouds stationed over the stadium appeared to open up any minute. But just like how the World Cup has seen tws and turns over the past week, out of nowhere sun peeked out at the right time and a steady breeze that set in soon after, cleared the skies, setting up an ideal ambience for New Zealand, who needed a bit of luck to smile on them.
Perfect outing
After near misses, close defeats and weather, this was an afternoon where everything went New Zealand’s way from the moment Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bowl first keeping an eye on the DLS. For Sri Lanka, who too had much at stake as they are yet to confirm their berth in the Champions Trophy, this was a game that summarised their World Cup campaign. With the forecast of rain for the evening, all they needed was to stretch the game as far as possible. But more than New Zealand, it was the Lankan batting unit that was in a hurry to finish the game before the skies opened up, losing five wickets in the first powerplay.
While they eventually managed to get 171 on board, largely thanks to opener Kusal Perera (51) and their No 9 Maheesh Theekshana (38 n.o), New Zealand made short work of the chase that further boosted their net run-rate, which now stands at +0.743. For a team whose strength has been the ability of the new-ball bowlers to fetch wickets, the indifferent form of Trent Boult and injury to Matt Henry has caused a few headaches at this World Cup. Having entered the tournament with an economy rate of 4.13, Boult has seen it swell to 4.97 in the past month. With Henry ruled out of the competition, and Lockie Fetguson missing a couple of games due to injury, their struggle with the ball wasn’t surprising.
Bengaluru: New Zealand’s Trent Boult appeals for a wicket during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)
But on a day where Williamson needed his attack to step up, Boult single-handedly set up the game for New Zealand with his opening spell, overcoming another bad start as his first two overs went for 23 runs. With Tim Southee at the other end to offer control and provide the early breakthrough, Boult found the swing and from there on, he found his elements. In such conditions, Boult can make the swing both ways and after Kusal Mendis top-edged one to third-man after going for a big heave over mid-wicket, the left-arm seamer got the opening he needed. His next wicket, Sadeera Samarawickrama, came in the same over as Boult just snapped his wrs at the last possible moment that made the ball to angle away, finding the edge of the batsman on the way as Daryl Mitchell caught it safely at the slip.
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Amidst all this mayhem around him, Perera was setting himself to something special. An attacking opener, who has built his game idolising Sanath Jayasuriya, the diminutive left-hander, was counter-attacking Sri Lanka out of trouble. Having already struck three boundaries and a six in the first five overs, in the next two overs he alone scored 26 runs, the only brief moment were New Zealand were put under some sort of pressure. All that Sri Lanka needed was someone to hang in and build a partnership with Perera, but as Boult trapped Charith Asalanka of his fourth over, New Zealand were all over their opponents. And in the last over of the first powerplay, the returning Ferguson would provide the landing blow, removing Perera.
It was the 21st wicket that Sri Lanka had lost in the first powerplay, a clear tell all scene of how below par their batting has been. The score of 74/5 would become 113/8 the 24th over, before Theekshana would frustrate the Kiwis, first for eight overs with Dushantha Chameera and then another 14 overs with Dilshan Madhushanka as Sri Lanka ended up with 171 in 46.4 overs.
Chasing the small target, New Zealand’s intentions were clear – to finish it as early as possible and ensure the NRR gets beyond the reach of Pakan and Afghanan. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra paved the way, stitching together 86 runs before the former dismissed in the 13th over. While Rachin too perished an over later, the rest of the Kiwi batting line-up maintained the tempo as they got home in the 24th over with five wickets in hand.
