Sri Lanka, Kiwis have knockout stage on radar

(Reuters) - Quarter-final calculations will be occupying the minds of both Sri Lanka and New Zealand when they clash in their final World Cup Group A match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Friday.

With both teams having secured their last eight spots, a keen tussle is on the cards for the final two points on offer, which will determine their positions in the table and with it their opponents in the knockout stage.

Sri Lanka will have a slight edge going into the match with New Zealand having to cope with injuries to some key players before the business end of the tournament kicks off next week.

The 1996 champions will need to move out of their comfort zone -- playing at home in known conditions while being roared on by their fanatical supporters.

But Sri Lanka are not worried about that, according to all-rounder Angelo Mathews.

“It’s not a big deal. The conditions are similar to those in Sri Lanka and the wickets are also slow. We have also played in India often,” Mathews told reporters on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka’s batting and bowling have now struck the right chord with the return to form of key players Tillakaratne Dilshan and Muttiah Muralitharan before the key clash.

New Zealand’s journey through the group stages has been relatively easy with four facile victories, the only blip coming against four-time champions Australia with a seven-wicket defeat.

The batting is brimming with confidence with almost all key batsmen having found runs during the campaign but it will be the bowling which will bother the Kiwis before Friday’s key clash.

Regular captain and frontline spinner Daniel Vettori and paceman Kyle Mills have struggled with injuries and Ross Taylor might have to take the skipper’s mantle once again if Vettori fails to recover in time.

Kiwi captain Vettori and Mills ruled out against Sri Lanka

Mumbai, (IANS) New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori and experienced fast bowler Kyle Mills will miss their World Cup Group A match against Sri Lanka here Friday.

Fast bowler Daryl Tuffey will join the squad Friday as a cover for Mills while left-arm spinner Luke Woodcock is expected to play their last group encounter.

Mills suffered a quad injury against Canada Sunday and missed training here Wednesday.

Vettori, who strained a knee ligament, missed the previous match against Canada as well. During the nets at the Wankhede Stadium, the 34-year-old Vettori came out with a heavily strapped knee and did a throwing drill.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) medical staff said both players are making rapid progress.

“With Kyle Mills suffering from a quad strain we felt it was important to cover our bases,” chief selector Mark Greatbatch said Wednesday.

“The medical team is working hard to get Kyle fit and we are hopeful he will still play a big part in the World Cup so bringing in Daryl is a precaution. Getting Daryl over to India early gives him the best chance of adjusting to the different time zone and conditions should he become part of the official squad,” he said.

Stand-in-skipper Ross Taylor hoped Vettori and Mills would recover by the quarterfinals. The Black Caps are already through to the knockout stage.

SL- NZ match, already a superhit

The Mumbai Cricket Association claims that the Friday’s game between Sri Lanka and New Zealand is in high demand and are expecting the stadium to be 70 to 80% full.

“There was a decent crowd for the Canada-New Zealand tie which was surprising. Mumbai people want to see a good game of cricket and the World Cup. The Friday’s game is a big one and there is a high demand for it,” Mumbai Cricket Association secretary Lalchand Rajput told DNA.

In India cricket maybe considered a religion, but it is difficult to find any takers for matches that don’t feature India. Even though India is a co-host of the World Cup, it is difficult to get the spectators to the stadium to watch other teams play, the DNA reported.

“The East stand is full. We have given the free tickets to school children, of course. Then the clubs are keen on taking the passes and then our other commitment with the government. We have also given 8,500 passes to ICC, and the tickets are selling like hot cakes everyday.

“We are expecting close to 25,000 people for this high-profile game. And we are proud of the fact that we are the only venue where non-India matches are a hit. Mumbai people love the game of cricket and watch it no matter who is playing,” added Rajput.

The city will see India in action only if they make it to the final on April 2. So, it comes as no surprise that the cricket-loving crowd of the city would be eager to watch the high-voltage clash with the likes of maverick slinger Lasith Malinga, big-hitter Ross Taylor and classy Mahela Jayawardene.