MUMBAI, India - New Zealand strike bowler Shane Bond and all rounder Scott Styris are doubtful starters for tonight's Champions Trophy Group B match against Sri Lanka.
The 31-year-old fast bowler Bond sat out of the opening match against South Africa on Monday with a back problem and Styris with
a hamstring twinge.
"They trained today but we won't know until tomorrow morning really," New Zealand team spokesman Lindsay Crocker said last night.
Despite the duo's absence, the former champions carved out an impressive 87-run victory against the South Africans.
Sri Lanka lost a thriller to Pakistan by four wickets in their opening encounter in Jaipur on Tuesday.
"The biggest worry for us is that we have been inconsistent in big tournaments," New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming told a news conference.
"What we are trying to do is put together a series of games that not only get us through to the semi-finals but win the competition," said the 33-year-old left-handed opener, who played a match-winning 89 against South Africa.
"We know that we are a good enough side to win them all."
Fleming said the teams were evenly balanced.
"I think we stack up pretty well. The one guy we don't stack up against is (Muttiah) Muralitharan and there is only Shane Bond who stacks up against him," he said, referring to the Sri Lankan off spinner.
Fleming expects experienced left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori to play an important role on Friday.
Pacemen Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram and off spinner Jeetan Patel took three wickets each in the last match on a spinner-friendly Brabourne Stadium pitch.
"Vettori's ability, his suppleness and his guile with the ball, is going to be crucial to us," he said.
Sri Lanka's coach Tom Moody was confident in his team.
"We have reviewed our performance against Pakistan. We are still very confident in this competition," he said.
The Islanders won 10 matches on the trot beginning with a 5-0 whitewash in England, before being stopped by Pakistan.
"This not the best time to be getting a reality check," Moody said referring to the defeat. "(But) the team is still carrying a lot of confidence and momentum."
The Sri Lanka captain blamed the defeat by Pakistan on inconsistent batting.
"We realise that getting out in 30s and 40s was one of the reasons. There were other reasons as well...
"A 70 or an 80 by one on us on that wicket would have made a difference. Hopefully, we'll rectify that in the next game."
- REUTERS
MUMBAI, India - New Zealand strike bowler Shane Bond and all rounder Scott Styris are doubtful starters for tonight's Champions Trophy Group B match against Sri Lanka.
The 31-year-old fast bowler Bond sat out of the opening match against South Africa on Monday with a back problem and Styris with
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