Colombo, Feb 27 (UNI) New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat against England in the 49th Match of the Super 8 Group 2 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the R Premadasa Stadium here on Friday, with conditions strongly favouring the side setting a target.
With five of the six matches at the venue won by teams batting first, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner had little hesitation in choosing to take first strike on a dry surface marked by visible bare patches.
Pitch-side analysis by Nasser Hussain and Aaron Finch indicated that the strip is the same one used two nights ago, measuring 75 metres straight down the ground, 75 metres on one side and 62 metres on the other. The surface is expected to aid spin as the game progresses, having turned more than anticipated in the previous fixture.
Santner said his side was familiar with the conditions after playing on the same wicket earlier. “You have to win games if you want to win a World Cup. Nice to have a run on this wicket the other night. We know what it’s going to do. If it’s flatter, we will adjust accordingly,” he remarked, confirming that New Zealand would field an unchanged XI.
England skipper Harry Brook admitted he would also have preferred to bat first. “There was spin here the other night. They are an amazing side. If we can beat them and try and knock them out, that would be great,” Brook said. He confirmed one change, with Rehan Ahmed coming in for Jamie Overton, while he continues at number three in the batting order.
England’s playing XI comprises Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Harry Brook (captain), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid.
New Zealand field Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (captain), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi and Lockie Ferguson.
With England leading fan predictions at 61 per cent to New Zealand’s 39 per cent, the high-stakes clash could prove decisive in shaping the semi-final line-up from Group 2.
