John Wright
April 12, 2007
It's a surprising statistic - Sri Lanka's successful run chase of 220 against New Zealand today is the second highest to win a match in this World Cup, behind Australia's 248 for 3 against England. So much for batting second.
New Zealand's decision, when they won the toss and batted, was, in my opinion, the correct one. The problem was that there was only one lone hand from Scott Styris. When someone scores a hundred and you manage only 219 then you have let him down. I doubt whether Stephen Fleming has ever had nightmares of a bowler he has to face, but if he did, that bowler would be Chaminda Vaas. He has dismissed him on the last four occasions that New Zealand have met Sri Lanka for a duck, in exactly the same manner - lbw. I am no statistician but I ask you fans of Cricinfo, has that ever happened before in one-day international cricket. Stephen has to avoid falling across his stumps and getting his front leg in the way. It is about his head position in the stance that enhances his balance, and perhaps the guard he takes.
Ross Taylor back from an injury needed some time in the middle, but that was cut short by a brilliant piece of glove work from Kumar Sangakkara. For me he has been the wicketkeeper of the tournament so far and he appears to be a real leader in this Sri Lankan side. His keeping has been outstanding and he is hitting form with the bat at the right time.
Styris' hundred was wonderfully engineered, he counter punched when he could and gave New Zealand a fighting chance. It occurred to me while watching his innings that he always looks to hit down the ground, more than a lot of modern one-day batsmen. In other words, he plays straighter. The wristy glides and flicks are not for him but he looks to push his ones through the mid-off and mid-on regions.
The problem New Zealand had was that there were no big partnerships. Peter Fulton and Jacob Oram were guilty of getting starts and falling to soft dismissals, and as this competition creeps to the hard end, the games that really matter, those lapses cannot occur especially when you are 2 for 2.
The Sri Lankan fielding was again crisp and they definitely save runs every time they field, perhaps on a good day even two per man. I thought Lasith Malinga would be sorely missed but Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando started so well that they set the tone. Muttiah Muralitharan is in brilliant form and he wins games. The other aspect of this Sri Lankan attack is that, of all the teams in the World Cup, they have more than one quality spin option to turn to. Murlitharan is there, we all know about him, but there's also Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakratne Dilshan and even Russel Arnold if needed. Not only are they tidy but they get through their overs so quickly that for a new batsman, who has come in to the crease, five overs could go before he knows it.
When you're defending 219 there is no room for error. New Zealand's start was sloppy, too many sundries, and in these situations there is a lot of pressure on Shane Bond, but he cannot do it every day. For the rest of New Zealand's Caribbean stay, be it in the next fixtures against South Africa, Australia and in the semis, Bond's opening partner be it James Franklin, Mark Gillespie or Michael Mason will have to play their part. The new ball is exactly for that and more wickets have to be created from the other end.
Sri Lanka's reply was not quite clinical but solid. And in every match of this World Cup at least two of their batsmen have passed fifty and that must be part of their game plan: if you can get two fifties in your innings then most often your are heading for 220. The big difference between the New Zealand and Sri Lanka's batting was one big partnership. Although someone should suggest to young Chamara Silva that it's his role is to stay and finish his job. I think the lesson started upon his dismissal as he walked passed his partner Sangakkara who clearly had a word.
Chaminda Vaas was awarded the man of the match by the TV commentators and I'm sure Michael Holding and Ian Bishop voted for the fast bowler, and a good choice. For Sri Lanka today it was their main men who stood up - Vaas, Jayasuriya, Murlitharan and Sangakkara.
April 12, 2007
It's a surprising statistic - Sri Lanka's successful run chase of 220 against New Zealand today is the second highest to win a match in this World Cup, behind Australia's 248 for 3 against England. So much for batting second.
New Zealand's decision, when they won the toss and batted, was, in my opinion, the correct one. The problem was that there was only one lone hand from Scott Styris. When someone scores a hundred and you manage only 219 then you have let him down. I doubt whether Stephen Fleming has ever had nightmares of a bowler he has to face, but if he did, that bowler would be Chaminda Vaas. He has dismissed him on the last four occasions that New Zealand have met Sri Lanka for a duck, in exactly the same manner - lbw. I am no statistician but I ask you fans of Cricinfo, has that ever happened before in one-day international cricket. Stephen has to avoid falling across his stumps and getting his front leg in the way. It is about his head position in the stance that enhances his balance, and perhaps the guard he takes.
Ross Taylor back from an injury needed some time in the middle, but that was cut short by a brilliant piece of glove work from Kumar Sangakkara. For me he has been the wicketkeeper of the tournament so far and he appears to be a real leader in this Sri Lankan side. His keeping has been outstanding and he is hitting form with the bat at the right time.
Styris' hundred was wonderfully engineered, he counter punched when he could and gave New Zealand a fighting chance. It occurred to me while watching his innings that he always looks to hit down the ground, more than a lot of modern one-day batsmen. In other words, he plays straighter. The wristy glides and flicks are not for him but he looks to push his ones through the mid-off and mid-on regions.
The problem New Zealand had was that there were no big partnerships. Peter Fulton and Jacob Oram were guilty of getting starts and falling to soft dismissals, and as this competition creeps to the hard end, the games that really matter, those lapses cannot occur especially when you are 2 for 2.
The Sri Lankan fielding was again crisp and they definitely save runs every time they field, perhaps on a good day even two per man. I thought Lasith Malinga would be sorely missed but Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando started so well that they set the tone. Muttiah Muralitharan is in brilliant form and he wins games. The other aspect of this Sri Lankan attack is that, of all the teams in the World Cup, they have more than one quality spin option to turn to. Murlitharan is there, we all know about him, but there's also Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakratne Dilshan and even Russel Arnold if needed. Not only are they tidy but they get through their overs so quickly that for a new batsman, who has come in to the crease, five overs could go before he knows it.
When you're defending 219 there is no room for error. New Zealand's start was sloppy, too many sundries, and in these situations there is a lot of pressure on Shane Bond, but he cannot do it every day. For the rest of New Zealand's Caribbean stay, be it in the next fixtures against South Africa, Australia and in the semis, Bond's opening partner be it James Franklin, Mark Gillespie or Michael Mason will have to play their part. The new ball is exactly for that and more wickets have to be created from the other end.
Sri Lanka's reply was not quite clinical but solid. And in every match of this World Cup at least two of their batsmen have passed fifty and that must be part of their game plan: if you can get two fifties in your innings then most often your are heading for 220. The big difference between the New Zealand and Sri Lanka's batting was one big partnership. Although someone should suggest to young Chamara Silva that it's his role is to stay and finish his job. I think the lesson started upon his dismissal as he walked passed his partner Sangakkara who clearly had a word.
Chaminda Vaas was awarded the man of the match by the TV commentators and I'm sure Michael Holding and Ian Bishop voted for the fast bowler, and a good choice. For Sri Lanka today it was their main men who stood up - Vaas, Jayasuriya, Murlitharan and Sangakkara.
