New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner says his side is treating Wednesday’s Super 8 fixture against Sri Lanka as a virtual knockout, as both teams look to strengthen their chances in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
New Zealand’s opening Super 8 match was washed out, forcing the team into an extended wait before returning to action. Santner admitted the break felt unusual but said it had allowed the squad to regroup after travelling from Chennai to Colombo.
“It feels like we haven’t played for a few days, so that’s going to be good tomorrow,” Santner told reporters on Tuesday. “It was obviously a shame about the rain the other night.”
With Sri Lanka under pressure following back-to-back defeats, Santner acknowledged the hosts would approach the match with urgency.
“Any game in the Super 8 is kind of a knockout. We know that it is for us and same for Sri Lanka,” he said. “We’ll be doing everything we can to prepare but also make sure the guys are fresh.”
The New Zealand skipper expects spin to play a key role at the R. Premadasa Stadium, traditionally known for slower surfaces.
“It looks a bit dry. It’s a fresh wicket but traditionally it has been a bit slow,” Santner said. “We know Sri Lanka are outstanding at home and they’ll know what to do on these wickets.”
Having played on flatter pitches in India during the group stage, Santner said adapting quickly to different conditions across co-host nations remains a major challenge.
“That’s the nature of a tournament like this in two countries. Chennai and Ahmedabad were very flat, and here you have to adjust. It’s whoever adapts best to the conditions that will put themselves in a good position,” he said.
Santner confirmed that all 15 squad members are fit for selection, giving the team flexibility to tailor their combination according to pitch conditions.
Sri Lanka, who impressed in the group stage including a win over Australia, are missing a couple of players through injury but remain a formidable opponent, Santner added.
“We’ve played them a lot and they’ve played us a lot. There are no real secrets. It’s about who adapts better and executes their skills.”
The Super 8 clash between Sri Lanka and New Zealand is scheduled to be played in Colombo on Wednesday night. (Newswire)