New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner says adapting to slow-turning pitches in Colombo will be key for their T20 World Cup clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka.

The Black Caps need a win in their second Super Eights match in Group 2 on Wednesday at the R Premadasa Stadium after their first match against Pakistan was washed out at the same venue.

Santner’s team have been in the Sri Lankan capital for a week after finishing their group stage in India.

“I guess that’s the challenge when you play a tournament in two countries – we played in Chennai and Ahmedabad on flat pitches and here we have to play a bit differently,” Santner, a left-arm spinner, told reporters.

“But I think you pick a squad of 15, knowing that you could potentially be in both countries on slightly slower wickets, on some flat ones as well.

“So I think we have the spin kind of options covered as well, which is nice, but it’s just going out there and adjusting as fast as you can.”

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Sri Lanka come into the contest in a must-win situation after they suffered a huge loss to England in their Super Eights opener in Kandy.

But Santner said Sri Lanka are always a tough nut to crack in their own den.

“Sri Lanka are a very strong side at home and they dominate conditions here,” said Santner.

“They are missing a couple of players but there’s quality in that lineup. We are lucky that we have played them a lot in recent years and there are no secrets.”

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New Zealand have one point from the rained-off match, while Sri Lanka stay bottom among four teams in the Super Eights group.

A defeat for New Zealand will dent their chances of making the semi-finals.

“Any game in the Super Eight is sort of knockout,” said Santner. “We know that it is the same for Sri Lanka. We want to put out a good show tomorrow and walk out with a win.”

– AFP

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