Cricket: Styris tips T20 struggle for NZ

It's been Scott Styris' favourite cricketing playground but the New Zealand allrounder is tipping a batting struggle for all the Twenty20 world championship combatants in the Caribbean.

New Zealand open their tournament with a group B match against Sri Lanka tomorrow (5am start NZT), having beaten Ireland and West Indies in warmup matches on the same tricky Providence Stadium surface in Georgetown, Guyana.

Yesterday's seven-run win over hosts the West Indies summed up how tough it will be for the batsmen; New Zealand slumped to 37 for six before a Ross Taylor-Jacob Oram rescue act, then West Indies lost their last nine wickets for 31 to be dismissed for 117.

"It's the nature of the pitches, they are really difficult to bat on, and very different to what we're used to back home. They're not like the other tours I've been on here in the Caribbean. It's going to be tough going," Styris said.

"We're all still trying to figure out how best to bat on them. They're very tired wickets and they've been used a lot. Batting is not easy, and getting yourself in is the hard part."

Styris has relished the Caribbean conditions in his two previous tours.

In 15 one-day internationals there, Styris has plundered 659 runs at an average of 65.9, including an average of 83.16 at the 2007 World Cup, and taken 16 wickets at 22.62.

He also scored 107 and 69 not out in his only test there, on his debut in 2002 in Grenada as New Zealand completed an historic first test series victory in the West Indies.

His effectiveness with the ball was illustrated yesterday when he took three wickets in seven deliveries to end with four for 18 and spark the West Indies' collapse with his changes of pace and off-cutters.

"It's the nature of Twenty20 cricket, you're never really out of it. If you can pick up a few wickets or get a couple of maidens together, it puts pressure on the opposition and false shots come from that. Maybe scores of 120-130 are not so bad over here at the moment.

"It isn't easy to bat on and the wickets do suit my style of bowling. I was very pleased with the way the bowling went, it'd be nice if I could contribute with the bat as well."

New Zealand and Sri Lanka have met six times in Twenty20 internationals for three wins apiece, but in their two meetings in the 50-over World Cup three years ago, Sri Lanka won both, including the semifinal.

New Zealand probably need to win just one of their two matches in group B to progress to the Super Eights, but face a potential banana skin match against Zimbabwe on Wednesday (1.30am start NZT).

Zimbabwe upset Australia this week, then toppled defending champions Pakistan by 12 runs today in St Lucia.

Allrounder Elton Chigumbura announced himself as a dangerman, flaying 76 against Australia then backing up today with 49 not out off 35 balls and bowling figures of three for 16.

New Zealand will hope their own matchwinning allrounder returns to his best form, with Jacob Oram rescuing his team with 46 not out off 40 balls against the West Indies as he returns from a knee injury layoff.

Said Styris: "Jacob's been struggling a little bit for form but yesterday he was fantastic and the best part was it was a tough wicket to bat on and he gutsed his way through and got us a matchwinning score."

- NZPA