New Zealand will be looking to secure a spot in the semi-finals when they take on Sri Lanka in what will be the 41st match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup. 

While Sri Lanka have been eliminated from contesting a top four finish, they will still be looking to exit on a high against one of the top sides.

Here’s a preview of their clash.

New Zealand

New Zealand’s Cricket World Cup campaign started convincingly with four consecutive wins over England, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. However, they have since suffered four successive defeats to India, Australia, South Africa, and Pakistan.

All-rounders Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell have emerged as New Zealand’s leading run-scorers in this tournament. Ravindra has scored 523 runs in eight innings, while Mitchell has 347 runs in seven innings. The return of captain Kane Williamson from injury has provided a timely boost to the XI as well.

In terms of bowling, spinner Mitchell Santner is the country’s leading wicket-taker in this tournament with 14 wickets in eight matches. New Zealand has lost fast bowler Matt Henry to injury for the rest of the competition. It will be interesting to see if replacement player Kyle Jamieson immediately slots into the XI.

New Zealand has never won the Cricket World Cup, having lost in the finals in 2015 and 2019. A defeat to Sri Lanka here would almost certainly end their push for a semi-final berth. They were among the title favorites a few weeks ago but are now struggling to remain in contention.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka secured successive wins over England and the Netherlands before losing to Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh in a row. They will not reach the 2023 Cricket World Cup semi-finals but can still qualify for the next Champions Trophy by finishing among the top seven teams in India.

The Sri Lankan squad has been hampered by injuries to key personnel, including Lahiru Kumara, Dasun Shanaka, and Matheesha Pathirana. The depth of the XI has since been exposed, as the replacement players haven’t necessarily performed well in the absence of the injured first-choice players.

In-form Sadeera Samarawickrama and Pathum Nissanka continue to lead Sri Lanka’s batting with 372 and 330 runs in the tournament, respectively. Hard-hitting Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis are also nearing 300 runs each in the competition.

Fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka has been outstanding in this World Cup, amassing 21 wickets in eight matches. He is arguably one of the best left-arm seamers on display in India this month. His last three ODIs have yielded 10 wickets, including a five-for against India.

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