Bengaluru, Nov 9:- In a crucial ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup encounter at Bengaluru, In a crucial ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup encounter at Chinnaswamy Stadium, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bowl first against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka faced a challenging start, struggling at 52/3 in 6 overs, with Pathum Nissanka (2), Kusal Mendis (6), and Sadeera Samarawickrama (1) back in the pavilion. Trent Boult claimed 2 wickets, while Tim Southee took one. Kusal Perera (39) and Charith Asalanka (2) were at the crease.
New Zealand made one change to their lineup, with Lockie Ferguson replacing Ish Sodhi, while Sri Lanka brought in Chamika Karunaratne for Kasun Rajitha.
With New Zealand, Pakistan, and Afghanistan tied at 8 points each, the Kiwis aimed to secure a victory to enhance their chances of reaching the knockout stages. Despite starting with four consecutive wins, New Zealand had lost their last four matches, making this encounter crucial for their semi-final aspirations.
The Black Caps, currently in the fourth spot, aimed to improve their net run rate to maintain their advantage over Pakistan and Afghanistan. Sri Lanka, sitting in ninth place, focused on securing a victory to potentially secure a top-eight finish and a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025.
Playing XIs:
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (C), Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tom Latham, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (C), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka.
