New Zealand does not have thrill of Gayle or flamboyance of Ponting or speedster like Brett Lee or Kemar Roach or all-rounder of the decade like Kallis or match winning leg spinner like Imran Tahir or master tactician captain like A.Strauss or World’s best spinner like Swann. Yet New Zealand is the team which qualified in Semi-Final of 2011 World Cup because they play like team.
One of the best assets of NZ is that they are the most amazing fielding side to watch. They give their 400% in the fielding. If they score 220 runs, rest assured its like 260 runs because; they are going to save 40 runs in their fielding. They make brilliant shot turn into simple catches. Run-outs is their best wicket taking bowler. NZ is also the only team who has not won the World Cup which makes them “UNDERDOGS”.
Sri Lanka when the tournament started had the strongest looking squad on paper. They have brilliant spinners, Malinga’s in swinging Yorkers which makes him the most reliable bowler in death overs. They have genuine all rounder like Mathews. They have the best in form batsman in the World (Sangakkara). They have reliable middle order of Jayawardene and Samaraweera. They have opening partnership which can destroy any attack in the form of Tharanga and Dilshan (both scored 100 against England in QF). They literally look team which is invincible.
What could NZ do to overcome something which looks like the most unachievable task in hand? Beating Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka who is in form and in Semi-Final is as tough as climbing Mount Everest but there are people who have climbed that mountain haven't they?
So it’s Doable. NZ do have 2 smart people in the form of John Wright and Alan Donald in coaching staff who can prepare them mentally and strategically to do what is possible. Question is: What is going to be that strategy and Can NZ execute it?
First of all: NZ has to remember that they have “ADVANTAGE” in the middle overs when they bowl.
1) Vettori/Oram/N.McCullum are brilliant in between 15 to 35 overs. They give away very less amount of runs and they take wickets as well. Those 20 overs shouldn’t give more than 80 runs against Sri Lanka and get 2 wickets.
2) Sri Lanka like S.Africa has the long tail. Murli/Herath/Mendis and Malinga cant bat. Expose them
3) Sri Lanka has slightly “in-experienced” lower middle order. Once Sri Lanka loose third wicket, focus should be to get the fourth settled batsman out. Once top 4 of Sri Lanka leaves; pressure will be tremendous on lower middle order with long tail and expectation of 20,000 people at ground. Key is to take first 4 batsmen out.
4) When NZ bat; bat in partnership. 30 runs partnership in between every wicket will see them through. NZ bat much lower down the order. Loosing the wicket is fine as long as they put forward partnership. 30/1; 60/2; 90/3;120/4;150/5;180/6;210/7;240/8;270/9.
5) Field Placement is very important. Catches win matches and run-out is your best wicket taking bowler NZ.
NZ has every chance to pull up the upset if they do every little thing perfectly. Sri Lanka on the other hand has to make sure they play up to their potential. Sri Lanka has to believe that NZ can defeat them because over confidence can take down any side. Sri Lanka has to remember that they have defects in their side. Sri Lanka has to hide their negative points and make sure their positives (top 4 batsman) get the job done.
Sri Lanka lost only one game in the tournament against Pakistan and in that game Malinga did not played. Murlidharan’s 10 overs are still crucial weapon for them to give them those wickets in the middle overs. If Murli is not going to be fit, that could be very big blow for Sri Lanka.
Logically speaking Sri Lanka should prevail in this game but in Cricket funny things do happen. Hard Work can give victory to the sides who probably wont be able to make it. NZ are under achieving team so far but perhaps, 29th March could be one of their day to re-write the History book.
One of the best assets of NZ is that they are the most amazing fielding side to watch. They give their 400% in the fielding. If they score 220 runs, rest assured its like 260 runs because; they are going to save 40 runs in their fielding. They make brilliant shot turn into simple catches. Run-outs is their best wicket taking bowler. NZ is also the only team who has not won the World Cup which makes them “UNDERDOGS”.
Sri Lanka when the tournament started had the strongest looking squad on paper. They have brilliant spinners, Malinga’s in swinging Yorkers which makes him the most reliable bowler in death overs. They have genuine all rounder like Mathews. They have the best in form batsman in the World (Sangakkara). They have reliable middle order of Jayawardene and Samaraweera. They have opening partnership which can destroy any attack in the form of Tharanga and Dilshan (both scored 100 against England in QF). They literally look team which is invincible.
What could NZ do to overcome something which looks like the most unachievable task in hand? Beating Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka who is in form and in Semi-Final is as tough as climbing Mount Everest but there are people who have climbed that mountain haven't they?
So it’s Doable. NZ do have 2 smart people in the form of John Wright and Alan Donald in coaching staff who can prepare them mentally and strategically to do what is possible. Question is: What is going to be that strategy and Can NZ execute it?
First of all: NZ has to remember that they have “ADVANTAGE” in the middle overs when they bowl.
1) Vettori/Oram/N.McCullum are brilliant in between 15 to 35 overs. They give away very less amount of runs and they take wickets as well. Those 20 overs shouldn’t give more than 80 runs against Sri Lanka and get 2 wickets.
2) Sri Lanka like S.Africa has the long tail. Murli/Herath/Mendis and Malinga cant bat. Expose them
3) Sri Lanka has slightly “in-experienced” lower middle order. Once Sri Lanka loose third wicket, focus should be to get the fourth settled batsman out. Once top 4 of Sri Lanka leaves; pressure will be tremendous on lower middle order with long tail and expectation of 20,000 people at ground. Key is to take first 4 batsmen out.
4) When NZ bat; bat in partnership. 30 runs partnership in between every wicket will see them through. NZ bat much lower down the order. Loosing the wicket is fine as long as they put forward partnership. 30/1; 60/2; 90/3;120/4;150/5;180/6;210/7;240/8;270/9.
5) Field Placement is very important. Catches win matches and run-out is your best wicket taking bowler NZ.
NZ has every chance to pull up the upset if they do every little thing perfectly. Sri Lanka on the other hand has to make sure they play up to their potential. Sri Lanka has to believe that NZ can defeat them because over confidence can take down any side. Sri Lanka has to remember that they have defects in their side. Sri Lanka has to hide their negative points and make sure their positives (top 4 batsman) get the job done.
Sri Lanka lost only one game in the tournament against Pakistan and in that game Malinga did not played. Murlidharan’s 10 overs are still crucial weapon for them to give them those wickets in the middle overs. If Murli is not going to be fit, that could be very big blow for Sri Lanka.
Logically speaking Sri Lanka should prevail in this game but in Cricket funny things do happen. Hard Work can give victory to the sides who probably wont be able to make it. NZ are under achieving team so far but perhaps, 29th March could be one of their day to re-write the History book.
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