Cricket: NZ's path at the world T20

All New Zealand time

Tomorrow, v Sri Lanka, Guyana, 5am
Win this and New Zealand will feel safe about making the Super Eight. But beware Zimbabwe, after their one-run win over Australia this week.

At last year's T20 in England, New Zealand were well done over. They were baffled by the curious spin of Ajantha Mendis, while Muttiah Muralitharan and round-arm slinger Lasith Malinga are invariably a handful. The Sri Lankans boast quality batsmen in captain Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, a couple of batting princes to grace any modern lineup, and the blazing Tillekaratne Dilshan to start things off. There are a handful of tidy operators as support acts with bat and ball.

This is no pushover, but a loss isn't necessarily curtains, although ...

Wednesday, v Zimbabwe, Guyana, 1.30am
It most likely will be if they don't beat the Southern Africans.

The teams have never met in T20 cricket and New Zealand should be too strong, with too much depth for a nation continually struggling to foot it, but capable of causing a rude surprise. Just ask the Aussies, whom they also beat in the inaugural T20 worlds at Cape Town three years ago.

Watch for Elton Chigambura, who thundered 76 off 35 balls against Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz and co this week, and the spin of Ray Price, nephew of golf legend Nick Price.

Super Eight
Top two teams from each group, assumes New Zealand advance.

Friday, v South Africa, Barbados, 5.30am
New Zealand have invariably found it tough against Graeme Smith's men in this form.

They have lost the last three meetings, after winning the first.

The most recent defeat, by one run at Lord's last June, was down to poor cricket, chasing 129 to win.

South Africa have Smith, Loots Bosman and Jacques Kallis, off a fine IPL with Bangalore, at the top, the likes of AB de Villiers, Albie Morkel and Mark Boucher to hurry things along. Their new ball bowling is sharp and their spinners tidy. Throw in that there's no such thing as a poor South African fielding unit and they'll be tough.

May 9, v Pakistan, Barbados, 1.30am
Next up the defending champions and who knows what to expect. They were beaten in the 2007 final by India, but made up for it against Sri Lanka at Lord's last year.

There is no Umar Gul - out injured - this time and his big swing which undid New Zealand spectacularly at The Oval a year ago. All out 99, Gul five for six and a six-wicket belting with seven overs to spare. There were two losses in Dubai late last year and overall New Zealand are 0-from-4 against Pakistan.

They are a mood team, and if they're up for it, they will be hard to stop. Shahid Afridi is a whizz-bang allround cricketer, Umar Akmal, Salman Butt, Abdul Razzaq capable of rapid scoring, teenage left armer Mohammad Aamer and crafty Mohammad Asif to use the new ball, deceptive offspinner Saeed Ajmal to team up with Afridi to deliver the twirly stuff. They could be awful, or be champions.

May 11, v England, St Lucia, 5.30am
Played four, lost three is New Zealand's record against England, rounding out what is shaping as a tough pool.

Not that the Poms are all that flash, although they do have Kevin Pietersen, if he's in form, as a destructive force, and Eion Morgan has added flair and fast-scoring to the middle order.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann anchor the bowling. But they're far from invincible. If New Zealand are still alive, this is highly winnable.

May 14, first semifinal, St Lucia, 3.30am

May 15, second semifinal, St Lucia, 3.30am

May 17, final, Barbados, 3.30am