Cricket-Rain threat adds element of unknown to NZ's semi-final bid

(Reuters) – According to New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, the forecast for rain has added an unknown element to New Zealand’s final World Cup group stage match against Sri Lanka in Chennai on Thursday. New Zealand currently holds the last semi-final slot, edging out Pakistan and Afghanistan with a better net run rate, as all three teams are tied on eight points after eight games.

Williamson mentioned, “We’ll still have to very much see what the pitch is like. There’s been a lot of weather around and it could look different tomorrow. There’s lots of things that we can’t control and the weather is one of those. There may be a thought in the back of your mind, but at the end of the day, our focus will be on the cricket that we want to play.”

New Zealand had a strong start in India, winning their first four matches, but then suffered four consecutive losses. Williamson acknowledged, “There were also some really close games and ones that we lost. I think if we look at the cricket on a whole, there has been a lot of good cricket. The beauty of this type of layout is that you do play everybody, you are challenged by everybody in different ways, so the focus is much more about your own cricket and how you look to try and handle that.”

In 2019, New Zealand also faced challenges to make it to the semis but managed to turn things around and reach the final. Williamson reflected, “I suppose guys have had some of those experiences, but it’s another game on another day and four years later. So, the focus is here and now and on the conditions, and how we want to adjust.”

Williamson also indicated that pacer Lockie Ferguson’s return after missing two matches due to injury would depend on pitch conditions. (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)