Sophie Devine and Ben Sawyer. Photo: Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
A tour to Sri Lanka two years ago has put the White Ferns in good stead for their next two Women's Cricket World Cup matches, says coach Ben Sawyer.
Having played their first three ODI World Cup matches in India, the team are getting ready to face Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday night. The White Ferns will stay in Colombo to play Pakistan on Saturday.
In June and July 2023 the White Ferns played three ODIs and three T20 matches against Sri Lanka.
"We played at Galle and at Colombo so we've experienced both and we also played them back home this year so we know Sri Lanka in particular well… I think the conditions will suit us, we've had a good look at Colombo, done out work and our research on the ground and I think we're ready to go," Sawyer said.
The White Ferns know experienced batter Chamari Athapaththu is a big threat.
"[She] is a huge wicket for us. She sets up their batting, for me she's the key, everyone around the world is going to say that but she can get their team off to a flyer, she can also just work her way through the middle and progress the innings for her team so she's a crucial match up for us."
Off-spinner Flora Devonshire was ruled out of the World Cup early with an injury and replaced with right-arm pace bowler Hannah Rowe.
Sawyer admits they are light on front-line spin bowlers but said pace could trouble Sri Lankan batters, who grow up in spin friendly conditions.
"Sometimes I see that as a bit of an advantage, like the last game you know Bangladesh grow up in spin friendly conditions and maybe throwing a bit of pace bowling at them is something a little bit different so we're going to try and use it as a strength.
"Obviously we'd love to have a few more spin bowling options here and ready to go …we just felt like maybe the spinners at the moment back home just weren't quite ready to come over so we are having to rely on our pace attack but it is what it is and you're going to back the pace in all the way."
The White Ferns started the tournament with losses to Australia and South Africa before notching up their first win against Bangladesh.
Sawyer said they would dearly love to win their next two games in Sri Lanka to keep their finals hopes alive.
"I think they're huge, out of the next four games we have to win three, potentially four to make it so every game is crucial for us so hopefully the weather holds out and we get both in here in Sri Lanka and then we can head back to India and know exactly where we are at."
Sophie Devine and Brooke Halliday have scored the bulk of the runs for New Zealand so far.
Devine is the highest run-scorer for the tournament after scoring 260 in three matches for an average of 87.
"They're making really good decisions and they're summing up the situation really really quickly … the other night, it was three early wickets, they said that 250 would be a good score, and we ended up with 240 so they summed it up pretty quickly and then they were able to work towards that."
As for other batters missing out Sawyer said a lot of teams have struggled.
"I think it is difficult up top and everyone's seeing that so for our batters up top it's still trying to attack and take the game on and get ahead of it. But then if we do need to reassess it's just making those really good decisions and that changes every game."
The White Ferns game against Sri Lanka starts at 10:30pm.
