The rain prediction for the crucial New Zealand-Sri Lanka match here on Thursday does not faze New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson.
“We can’t control the weather. There may be a thought in the back of your mind, but at the end of the day, our focus is on the cricket,” Williamson said in a press conference here on Wednesday.
Williamson described Glenn Maxwell’s masterclass knock against Afghanistan on Tuesday as an “incredibly special knock”.
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“It was an incredibly special knock. Not just the runs, but the situation, as he was clearly struggling physically. To be able to pull that off, and in a partnership with Pat Cummins is without doubt one of the great World Cup victories,” Williamson said.
“At the same time, it was a tough one for Afghanistan. They’ve been excellent, and they probably won 80 to 90% of that game. In white ball cricket, things can change quickly,” he added.
Sri Lanka assistant coach Naveed Nawaz stated that the side is keen to finish in the top-eight in order to qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025. “This is a crucial game. The Champions Trophy scenario says we need to win it. Our preparation was like any other game. Everyone is very positive,” Nawaz said.
