New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner says his side must quickly adapt to Colombo’s slow, turning surface as they prepare for a pivotal T20 World Cup Super Eights clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
The Black Caps head into the contest at the R. Premadasa Stadium needing a victory after their opening Super Eights match against Pakistan was washed out at the same venue. New Zealand have spent the past week in the Sri Lankan capital following their group-stage campaign in India.
Santner noted that shifting conditions between host nations present a major challenge for teams in the tournament.
“Playing in two countries means adjusting constantly,” he said. “We played on flatter pitches in Chennai and Ahmedabad, and here we expect slower wickets that demand a different approach. That’s why you pick a balanced squad capable of handling both situations.”
The left-arm spinner believes New Zealand possess the right spin options but stressed the importance of rapid adjustment on match day.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, enter the match under pressure after suffering a 51-run defeat to England in their Super Eights opener in Pallekele. Despite missing several key players through injury, Santner warned that the hosts remain formidable in familiar conditions.
“Sri Lanka are always dangerous at home and they understand these pitches extremely well,” he said. “They may be missing a few players, but the quality in their line-up is still strong.”
With only one point from their abandoned match, New Zealand know defeat would severely damage their semi-final hopes.
“Every Super Eight game feels like a knockout,” Santner said. “It’s the same for Sri Lanka. We want to deliver a strong performance and come away with the win.”
Sri Lanka spinner Dunith Wellalage expressed confidence that the hosts can revive their campaign by winning their remaining matches.
“We must win both games,” Wellalage said. “A home World Cup means a lot to us and the support from the fans has been incredible. We still believe we can reach the semi-finals.”
The 23-year-old has taken on greater responsibility in the absence of injured senior bowlers Matheesha Pathirana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Eshan Malinga. He impressed against England with three wickets, including captain Harry Brook, after being tasked with bowling in the powerplay.
“It was a challenge, but my focus was on controlling boundaries and varying my lengths,” Wellalage said. “When I executed well, the batters were forced to take risks.”
Sri Lanka have struggled for consistency in global tournaments since lifting the T20 World Cup in 2014, but recent results against New Zealand at home — including Test and ODI series wins and a drawn T20 series — have boosted confidence.
“We know we can beat New Zealand in these conditions,” Wellalage said. “We still have a chance, and winning tomorrow is crucial.”
