Sri Lanka was outplayed in the ODI format on Sunday by home team New Zealand at the Basin Reserve, and we’re thumped by 9 wickets in the lung opener.
The middle order must play with intent and take responsibility to stay alive in the series as they have already lost the T 20 series on tour.
The visitors are a much better team in the Odi format than the T 20 version because they lack power hitters for the shortest version of the white ball format.
Sri Lankan batters are more suited to executing their in born skill levels in the longer format of the white ball format. However, they failed against a hostile seam attack of the black caps led by Matthew Henry, who was all over the visitors who simply could not cope with seam and bounce.
Under the guidance of coach Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka will bounce back because they are quick learners.
New Zealand, on the other hand, knows that Sri Lanka is a talented unit. Hence, they are wise enough not to take the Charith Asalanka led team for granted.
Sri Lanka must improve in their approach in batting and ensure to bat all 50 overs. The top order must be more selective in their stroke play and show more patience because bad balls will come their way for execution. They were guilty of trying to pull a rabbit out of the hat in their first outing, but that approach is not the way against a quality bowling cordon.
Fair to state, the bowling unit looked hapless, defending a small total. Hence, it is pertinent for the batters to set the pace so that the bowling unit can do the job if batting first whilst the bowling unit too must hit the right areas by keeping it simple and adhering to basics.
Line and length should be the motto not to experiment in trying to buy wickets, which is a dangerous ploy against the Kiwis who can clear the ropes with their strong batting lineup.
Sadly, Sri Lankan fielding floped, that’s due to pressure , defending a small score, the virus spreads to all departments batting, bowling, and fielding if one decipline has a bad day in this format.
The match gets underway at 6.30 am IST tomorrow, Go for Gold, and I will keep all of you updated on the inside edge and our post-match script from Hamilton.