Playing at home should bring comfort, but for Sri Lanka, it also brings expectation. The team has shown heart, but execution has lagged, which was particularly observed in the field against England in the previous match.
Sri Lanka’s head coach, Rumesh Ratnayake, admitted that while effort hasn’t been lacking, carrying it through remains a concern. “We saw the disadvantage when we missed a catch. By losing one catch, they increased their total to a hundred,” he said ahead of the clash against New Zealand at the R. Premadasa Stadium here on Tuesday.
The batting, too, has struggled for stability. “Everyone should play the anchor role. We have six players who should do that, but so far, it has never happened,” Ratnayake explained.
Still, there’s no shortage of belief within the camp. “We’ve done well against New Zealand in the past, but that’s history. We have to be in the present and identify the key moments to win,” he added, emphasising composure over past records.
Across the dressing room, New Zealand’s Maddy Green acknowledged Sri Lanka’s potential threat, especially at home. “They are a challenging side. We know we need to play really well, especially against their spinners and their captain Chamari (Athapaththu). She’s a big wicket for us.”
Reflecting on her own role, Green added: “It’s more about how do I contribute — Sometimes you need to try, go from ball one and finish off the innings. Or it might be to steady the ship and get a partnership going… I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball well, so I feel confident with where my game’s at.”
Published – October 13, 2025 10:58 pm IST
