BLACKCAPS view last four

The BLACKCAPS can move a step closer to the ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals with victory over Sri Lanka in Mumbai.

The 87-run triumph over South Africa earlier this week got the campaign in India off to a winning start.

The BLACKCAPS return to Brabourne Stadium to take on Mahela Jayawardene’s side and a win could be enough to see them through, depending on results before their final group game against Pakistan.

And the side is not seeing this tournament simply as a precursor to a big season of ODI cricket.

Vice-captain said: “The Champions Trophy’s really important to us, because we’ve won it in the past and we’d love to get it back. That’s my focus and I know it’s the team’s focus.”

Sri Lanka is a familiar adversary for the Kiwis, with many intriguing individual battles.

Vettori is likely to line up against his ICC World XI colleague Muttiah Muralidaran, as two of One-Day cricket’s top spin bowlers face off again.

And wicketkeeper/batsmen and Kumar Sangakkara are also among the best at their chosen discipline.

McCullum acknowledges both men stand adrift of Australia’s Adam Gilchrist as the world’s number one, but there is a keen battle between the pair.

“He (Gilchrist) is certainly above anyone else going round at the moment,” said McCullum.

“But saying that, Kumar Sangakkara also developed a unique art by having to keep to Murali, and he’s perfected that to a very high standard. He’s doing well at that and he’s a very fine batsman too.”

They return to New Zealand shores later this year, with this match an interesting precursor to The National Bank Series.

The Sri Lankans were impressive in the preliminary group, with three wins from three.

But the former world champions were defeated by a Pakistan team inspired by a dominant performance from all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, and their tournament will be effectively over if they lose to the BLACKCAPS.

The BLACKCAPS lost the last time the teams met, in Napier in January, but that was the last match in a 4-1 series win by the hosts.

But Sri Lanka has gone from strength-to-strength since their reverse in New Zealand, reaching the final of the VB Series in Australia and comprehensively defeating England in One-Day matches.

The BLACKCAPS team will be announced closer to the start time. Shane Bond and Scott Styris missed the win over South Africa through injury and their status will be assessed before the game.

The BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka match at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium starts at 10pm NZT (2.30pm local time).

BLACKCAPS (from): Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Brendon McCullum, Hamish Marshall, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.

Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralidaran, Chaminda Vaas, Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Farveez Maharoof, Upul Tharanga, Lasith Malinga, Malinga Bandara, Ruchira Perera, Chamara Kapugedera.