ICC Men’s T20 WC Super 8: Lanka in do or die scenario

• Black Caps unbeaten since 2014 

Pressure-laden co-hosts Sri Lanka will be in a now or never situation, as they confront unpredictable New Zealand in a must-win clash of the Super 8 phase of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium (RPICS) in Colombo tonight.

Both teams enter the crunch encounter seeking much-needed rhythm; the home side coming on the back of a chastening 51-run loss to England on Sunday (22), where their batting floundered for a mere 95 runs.

New Zealand’s opening Super 8 tie against Pakistan was called off due to persistent rain at the same venue last Saturday (21), leaving them ultra-motivated for a full game to garner crucial points.

However, the pressure will build on the Lankans from ball one to prove that their recent heady success over former champions Australia in the group phase was not a flash-in-the- pan.

After two successive losses to both Zimbabwe (in the group stage) and England (in the Super 8) brought them down to earth, they will be determined to get their act together in a critical match for their own survival in the competition.

Dasun Shanaka’s men earnestly must find stability in their middle order following twin collapses in their two most recent games and the onus is on them to fire on all cylinders.

The team’s think tank may even look to swap underperforming Kamindu Mendis with Janith Liyanage and could even be prompted to recall Kusal Janith in place of misfiring Kamil Mishara.

But, the underwhelming batting barring the emphatic chase spearheaded by Pathum Nissanka against Australia where all clicked to perfection, will pose the biggest headache to the home camp.

The Lankans will know that if they were to fluff their lines tonight before their success-starved followers, it will be curtains for their WC aspirations and how they come through this litmus test will decide their fate in this edition of the sport’s marquee event.

Meanwhile, any success for the Black Caps will primarily hinge on how well their top order, including the likes of Devon Conway tackles the spin threat of their hosts.

With power-hitters of the class of Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips and batter Rachin Ravindra in their ranks, the Mitchell Santner-led outfit are yet to hit their straps in this World Cup, and if they were to fire collectively it may as well spell doom for the home team.

History too is in favour of the visitors who have not been beaten by Sri Lanka in a ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match, since a 59-run loss at Chattogram, Bangladesh in the 2014 edition – which was also the last and only occasion the island-nation lifted a global trophy in this form of the game.