Sri Lanka’s Super 8 campaign is teetering on the brink. Unless their batting rediscovers conviction, things could unravel very fast against a resolute and skilled New Zealand in Colombo on Wednesday.
Slow bowling and sluggish tracks have been Sri Lanka’s bugbears for a while now, factors exemplified by their failure to chase a modest 147 against England in Pallekele two nights ago. Sri Lanka batted as though intent alone could overpower the surface. Instead, the innings dissolved into a series of soft dismissals.
The challenge will be no kinder in Colombo. The R Premadasa Stadium’s bigger boundaries and surface demands smart cricket. Yet, too often, Sri Lanka appear caught between forcing the pace and freezing against it. Sri Lanka batting coach Vikram Rathour acknowledged the miscalculations against England. “It’s a T20 game, so obviously you come into a game looking to score as many runs as you can. So when the ball is not coming on to the bat, it’s easier said than done,” Rathour said, adding, “Are there better options for us? Yes, definitely. A couple of our wickets were lost because guys were pushing for a single. I don’t think that was a great option in these conditions.”
There were some positives. Opener Pathum Nissanka has offered composure at the top. Dunith Wellalage’s left-arm spin has provided control. The seamers have competed. But these fragments mean little if their batters fail shine.
New Zealand, meanwhile, arrive equipped to exploit Sri Lanka’s weaknesses. Mitchell Santner’s team have been in Colombo for a week after finishing their group stage in India. “I guess that’s the challenge when you play a tournament in two countries. We played in Chennai and Ahmedabad on flat pitches and here we have to play a bit differently,” Santner said. A washout against Pakistan has stalled their rhythm, with both teams earning a solitary point from that rained-off game. Tim Seifert has balanced proactive intent with calculated strokeplay while Rachin Ravindra’s half-century against Canada has bolstered their batting. With rain unlikely to intervene, this contest will hinge on execution. For Sri Lanka, the equation is simple: adapt or exit.
