Cricket: Warm-up wins give NZ boost for T20 opener

New Zealand have given themselves a couple of good reasons for optimism going into their opening game at the world T20 championship against Sri Lanka in Guyana early tomorrow.

Their low-scoring seven-run win over hosts the West Indies yesterday - improbably defending 124 and having the Windies crumble from 86 for one in the 12th over to lose nine for 31 - gives New Zealand two wins from two warm-up games at the venue for their group B games against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

They know what to expect of the Providence Stadium pitch and one clue is the likelihood of Nathan McCullum joining captain Dan Vettori in a twin-spin attack.

Scott Styris' four for 18 yesterday with his slow medium bowling was another clear pointer of the likely approach to both games on the South American mainland.

"The fact we've played a couple of games here before they have is an advantage," Vettori said yesterday.

New Zealand's batting was pretty miserable too, stumbling to 37 for six before Ross Taylor and Jacob Oram, with a 60-run stand, pulled the innings round.

Taylor made 50, Oram an unbeaten 46 and no other batsman made double figures.

Apart from openers Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, with a stand of 68, the West Indies batsmen offered nothing.

Vettori has a clear idea of the New Zealand XI for tomorrow but is keeping mum. Every player has had a run, and New Zealand look stronger for the inclusion of Jesse Ryder, Oram and Kyle Mills, three returning from injury layoffs.

Those likely to miss out are batsman Aaron Redmond, allrounder Rob Nicol, fast-medium Ian Butler and one other, perhaps Tim Southee.

That should give plenty of batting depth, plus at least six bowling options.

Sri Lanka, beaten finalists last year, have a 50 per cent winning record from six games against New Zealand, but lost their last two contests, at home in Colombo last September.

Increasing familiarity with their assortment of distinctive bowlers - spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis and round arm slinger Lasith Malinga - should help too.

The loser will likely face a must-win game against Zimbabwe to stay in the tournament.

NZ v SRI LANKA
Guyana, 5.30am tomorrow, live on SS1

NEW ZEALAND
(from) Dan Vettori (c), Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Aaron Redmond, Rob Nicol, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Jacob Oram, Gareth Hopkins, Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Ian Butler, Shane Bond.

SRI LANKA
(from) Kumar Sangakkara (c), Tillekaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera, Suraj Randiv, Chanaka Welegedera, Chinthaka Jayasinghe, Angelo Matthews, Dinesh Chandimal, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Kulasekera, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Thissara Perera.