ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023: In their quest to stay on course in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, New Zealand is eager to return to the winner’s circle against Sri Lanka. Glenn Maxwell’s outstanding performance against Afghanistan has kept New Zealand in the fourth position in the Cricket World Cup standings. Still, they must push ahead to enhance their chances of progressing to the knockout stages. With Pakistan and Afghanistan nipping at their heels, New Zealand’s only respite lies in securing a convincing victory against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. Although a loss wouldn’t necessarily eliminate them, it would place their fate in the hands of other match results.
The tournament for New Zealand has been a rollercoaster ride, marked by a four-game winning streak followed by a loss to India. Unfortunately, they haven’t secured a victory since then and are eager to break that pattern against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, suffered their sixth defeat in the tournament with a three-wicket loss to Bangladesh, a disappointing outcome given the favorable conditions. While Sadeera Samarawickrama, Pathum Nissanka, and Dilshan Madushanka have shown promise in their respective roles, many of the team’s star players haven’t performed as expected. Sri Lanka has a chance to change their fortunes with a spirited performance in Bengaluru.