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 Mumbai, Oct 19: Sri Lanka face an early elimination from the ICC Champions Trophy unless they beat an inspired but injury-hit New Zealand in a crucial Group B match at the Brabourne Stadium here tomorrow.
The
Lankans, who came through to the main round with an all-win record in the qualifying phase of the ten-team event, lost to Pakistan in the league opener at Jaipur on Tuesday, to find themselves in a must-win situation against the Kiwis.
New Zealand, on the other hand, started with a shock victory over the fancied South Africa here on Monday and a roll over the Lankans would ensure them a berth in the semi-finals ahead of their last league encounter against Pakistan at Mohali on October 25.
But the Kiwis would struggle to field eleven fit players as three of their players -- fast bowler Shane Bond (stiff back), all-rounder Scott Styris (hamstring twinge) and medium pacer Mark Gillespie (viral infection -- are on the indisposed list.
However, team sources said Bond and Gillespie were expected to be available for selection.
 But even in the likely absence of Bond and Styris, New Zealand will still be a fighting unit and a keen tussle can be predicted, especially now that the newly dug-up square at the Cricket Club of India has started to behave better, as was seen in yesterday's nail-biting clash between title-holders West Indies and world champions Australia.
The wicket is still expected to aid the slow bowlers and, with both the teams possessing quality spinners, the contest might very well be decided by who wins the toss. The team that bats first seems to hold a big advantage as the wicket becomes difficult and batting against the sharply spinning ball and the ones that jag back from the pace bowlers become challenging as the match progresses.
The Lankans seem to hold a slight edge because they are the better players of the turning ball although the Kiwis have a good pace attack, even without the three players under the fitness cloud.
A good start is what both the teams would be hoping for and Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, has shown in ample measure how to bat on these surfaces by playing late with soft hands and mostly square and behind the wicket.
The comprehensive 87-run victory over South Africa, fashioned mainly by Fleming's fine 89 on a difficult wicket, would be an enormous morale-booster for New Zealand who are playing cricket after a seven-month hiatus.
But the Kiwis depend a little too much on Fleming and their most successful one-day player Nathan Astle in batting, which could turn out to be a handicap.
But they do have a good pace attack with Kyle Mills who chopped off the South African top order with an incisive 3 for 18 in six overs, left-armer James Franklin, and all rounder Jacob Oram all looking good.
In Daniel Vettori, arguably the world's best left-arm spinner at present, and new comer Jeetan Patel, an off spinner, the Kiwis have the players to take advantage of the spin-friendly surface especially in the latter half of the match.
Sri Lanka's batting failed to perform to its full potential against Pakistan as five top-order batsmen including veteran Sanath Jayasuriya who top-scored with 48, got past the 30s but failed to consolidate on their starts. Jayasuriya, with his effective left-arm slow stuff, and Muttiah Muralitharan were the best bowlers on view against Pakistan, and could be a potent force against New Zealand who are not as good players of spin as Pakistan. (Agencies)
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