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Andy Waller, the former Zimbabwe batsman, has been confirmed as the country’s new head coach. He will take up his post after the Bangladesh tour.

ESPNcricinfo staff01-May-2013Andy Waller, the former Zimbabwe batsman, has been confirmed as the country’s new head coach. He will take up his post after the Bangladesh tour.As revealed by ESPNcricinfo Waller will replace current acting national coach Stephen Mangongo with Mangongo becoming Waller’s assistant.Waller, 53, played two Tests – both against England – and 39 ODIs for Zimbabwe between 1987 and 1997. He became coach of Namibia before being appointed Zimbabwe coaches manager in 2009. He then joined Midwest Rhinos as head coach before coming to the UK to work at Eastborne College.”Waller takes over the reins at a time when the demands on our performance are very high,” Zimbabwe Cricket Board chairman, Peter Chingoka, said. “We are confident that the strategy he presented to us and his unique style of coaching will yield positive results.”Waller said he had high expectations: “We have a busy calendar of tours and our performance needs to start reflecting the preparation that goes into these games. My long-term focus is to build a team of the future and I am looking forward to working with the boys.”

An aggressive all-round display by India, including another match-winning century from Dinesh Karthik and a five-wicket haul from Umesh Yadav, inflicted a stinging 243-run defeat on Australia

Nagraj Gollapudi in Cardiff04-Jun-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDhoni and Karthik put on 211 runs for the sixth wicket to effectively take the game away from Australia•Associated PressAn aggressive all-round display by India, including another match-winning century from Dinesh Karthik and a five-wicket haul from Umesh Yadav, inflicted a stinging 243-run defeat on Australia in the teams’ second warm-up match.Karthik was the batting star of the match, scoring his second consecutive ton in the warm-up fixtures, strengthening his case for a place in India’s starting XI in the tournament. “I think he has earned his place in the side and we’ll just have to see who misses out when we play against South Africa,” MS Dhoni said after the game. “I’d like him to play at the top of the order but we’ll [have to wait and] see.”The game was virtually over 54 minutes into the chase, when Australia were reduced to 34 for 6 in the face of some fierce fast bowling from Yadav, who picked up a five-wicket haul in his first, and only, spell of five overs. Yadav, who got married last Wednesday, had joined the Indian squad three days later and had been rested in the first warm-up match against Sri Lanka on Saturday.Australia’s troubles started in the second over when Matthew Wade, opening ahead of Phillip Hughes, played on while attempting a pull. David Warner’s horrific run continued as he went for an expansive stroke against a full delivery that was moving away, only to be caught brilliantly at first slip by R Ashwin. This was Warner’s third duck in his last four innings.In the fifth over, George Bailey misread the line of a Yadav delivery that seamed away and was bowled for 1. Four overs later, Hughes went for an exuberant pull and played on. Mitchell Marsh was unlucky, given caught behind to a delivery that seamed in and flicked his trousers on its way to MS Dhoni. Australia’s hopes were extinguished when Shane Watson, who had scored a match-winning century against West Indies, attempted to cut Ishant Sharma and joined the club of Australian batsmen who played on.India had also found themselves in a similar trap at 55 for 5. That they recovered from that precarious position was solely due to the mature batting between Karthik and Dhoni, whose 211-run partnership powered India’s fightback.Though only one wicket fell to a spinner, the pitch wasn’t exactly a grassy, seamer-friendly one. Although it had good bounce and carry, there was not much lateral movement.Karthik, who hit an unbeaten 106 in the victory against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston, was once again at ease. As he had done with Virat Kohli, during their 185-run stand against Sri Lanka, Karthik shared the workload with Dhoni. One of the major reasons Australia failed to dominate either of the batsmen was because both ran fast between the wickets, and they rotated strike constantly without worrying about the run-rate.At the start of the batting Powerplay, which Karthik and Dhoni took from the 34th over, India were 137 for 5. They scored another 34 runs during those five overs of field restrictions. While that began the charge, India completely turned the game in the final ten overs, as they smashed 100 runs to muscle the total past 300, a score which looked remote when Karthik and Dhoni first came together.Dhoni brought up his half-century with a six over long-off against Marsh in the 40th over, and then slapped a flat one-bounce boundary, before a six over the point boundary made it the most expensive over of the match with 22 runs. Under pressure, the Australian bowlers failed to bowl to their fields and erred in their lengths.Dhoni even pulled out his patented helicopter stroke against James Faulkner for a one-bounce four to midwicket. That took him into the nineties but he was not nervous as he went for a straight hit a couple of deliveries later, but failed to clear Mitchell Johnson at long-off.His departure did not slow Karthik, who got to his second century in as many matches with a mistimed pull against Mitchell Starc, as the top edge flew over the wicketkeeper for a boundary. But later he hit two spectacular fours: a flick past fine leg followed by a chopped drive against yorker-length deliveries from Starc. Karthik piled on 35 runs from 19 deliveries in the final five overs as India’s total swelled to winning proportions.

Sreesanth, the India and Rajasthan Royals seamer who was arrested after allegations of spot-fixing, has been moved to judicial custody

ESPNcricinfo staff28-May-2013Sreesanth, the India and Rajasthan Royals seamer arrested on charges of spot-fixing, has been remanded in judicial custody by a Delhi court till June 4. Sreesanth had been placed in police custody, and the Delhi Police had sought a two-day extension.Sreesanth had applied for bail on May 26. He was one of three Royals cricketers – Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila being the others – arrested on May 16, following which they were suspended by the BCCI pending an inquiry. Chavan’s bail plea in order to get married on June 2 was rejected by a Delhi court and he will also remain in judicial custody until June 4.Royals had suspended the contracts of all three players and also filed a police complaint against them. The players were allegedly promised money ranging from US$36,000 to 109,000 by bookies for each over of under-performance.Eleven bookies were also arrested along with the three players on May 16. One of the middlemen was identified as Jiju Janardhan, described by the police as Sreesanth’s close friend and team-mate at the Ernakulam club. Delhi Police had registered cases under the Indian Penal Code section 420 and 120B, which deal with fraud, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.

Pakistan’s Asad Rauf and New Zealand’s Billy Bowden have been dropped from the ICC’s Elite Panel of umpires

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jun-2013Pakistan’s Asad Rauf and New Zealand’s Billy Bowden have been dropped from the Elite Panel of umpires following the annual review, the ICC have announced. They have been replaced by England’s Richard Illingworth and Australia’s Paul Reiffel in the 12-member panel for the 2013-2014 season starting on July 1, 2013.In May this year, the ICC withdrew Rauf from officiating in the Champions Trophy in England following media reports that indicated he was under investigation by Mumbai Police. The ICC, however, clarified that the situation was not a factor in his exclusion from the panel.”In Asad’s case, it is important to emphasise that the recent speculation linking his name to the IPL spot-fixing investigation was not considered during the selectors’ deliberations,” Geoff Allardice, the chairman of the ICC’s umpire selection panel, said. “The selection panel considered the overall performances of the umpires over the past 12 months when deciding which umpires would be offered contracts for 2013-14.”It is exciting to see Richard and Paul promoted to the elite panel, but it is also important to acknowledge and appreciate the outstanding contributions of Asad and Billy over a long period of time,” Allardice added.Paul Reiffel was thoroughly satisfied with the appointment. “When I first started on CA’s Project Panel Umpires program after retiring from first-class cricket, my aim was to reach the highest level of international umpiring. It always seemed a long way off so it’s very rewarding and exciting to achieve the goal I set myself when I first started umpiring.””I’d like to thank Cricket Australia for their support throughout my umpiring career. The umpiring system and pathway in Australia is very good, which is evidenced by the quality of Australian umpires.”Reiffel, a former Australian fast bowler, played 35 Tests and 92 ODIs between 1992 and 1998. He has been umpiring in international cricket since January 2009 and has stood in 4 Tests, 30 ODIs and 9 T20Is.Rauf was included in the panel of umpires in 2006 and officiated in 48 Tests, 98 ODIs and 23 T20Is. Bowden was part of the panel since 2003 during and he has officiated in 75 Tests, 181 ODIs and 19 T20Is.Illingworth, a former left-arm spinner, played nine Tests and 25 ODIs for England, including the 1992 World Cup final against Pakistan. He has umpired in 4 Tests, 16 ODIs and seven T20Is since July 2010.Elite Panel of umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Steve Davis, Marais Erasmus, Ian Gould, Tony Hill, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Rod Tucker, Richard Illingworth and Paul Reiffel

A round-up of matches at the Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier, on July 27

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jul-2013Offspinner Christabel Chatonzwa, took four top-order wickets and conceded just 12 runs in four overs, as Zimbabwe Women secured a 29-run victory over Thailand Women in a low-scoring Group A match of the Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifiers in Dublin.Zimbabwe, put in to bat, started slowly, losing opener Thandolwenkosi Mlilo in the third over and managing just 47 after 10 overs. Nonhlanhla Nyathi top scored for the team with a 47-ball 28, but no significant partnership materialised, as Thailand restricted Zimbabwe to 103 for 8.Somnarin Tippoch was the pick of the bowlers for Thailand, finishing with figures of 4-0-13-2.Thailand were never convincing in their chase and lost openers Boochatham and Pundarika Prathanmitr within the first four overs. The Zimbabwe bowlers, led by Player-of-the-Match Chatonzwa, were all tidy and incisive, and bowled at an economy rate of less than six.Somnarin Tippoch put up a fighting 24, but none of the other batsmen managed to reach double figures as Thailand were bowled out for 74 in 18.4 overs.Both teams will compete in the tournament’s Shield semi-finals, along with Japan and Canada, the other two teams that failed to make the main semis.In the other Group A game, Nain Abidi shone with a 27-ball 38 to help Pakistan Women defeat Netherlands Women by 20 runs after the match was reduced to nine overs per side due to a rain delay.Pakistan, electing to bat, got off to a slow start, losing both their openers Javeria Khan and Javeria Rauf inside two overs. But Abidi, who was named the Player of the Match, and Bismah Maroof stabilised the innings with a 60-run third-wicket partnership. Maroof departed for 25, but Abidi remained unbeaten and struck three fours during her knock to take Pakistan to a competitive total of 72 for 4.Netherlands began their innings slowly, Pakistan keeping them well below the required run-rate. Opener Helmien Rambaldo top scored with 15, and Netherlands could only manage three boundaries throughout the innings and, ultimately, their failure to accelerate the scoring meant they could only put up 52 in their nine overs.In Group B, 46 year-old Durriya Shabbir and Suthershini Sivanantham helped Canada Women to a tense five-wicket win after their bowlers had made their job all the more tougher, presenting Japan Women their top score with 27 wides and one bye.Japan suffered early setbacks after being put in to bat, losing Mariko Yamamoto and captain Shizuka Miyaji off successive balls in the second over. A 35-run union between Chihiro Sakamoto and Kurumi Ota steadied the innings, but it slumped again after their partnership was broken in the ninth over. Japan lost two more wickets and were at 65 for 5 in the 13th over when an unbeaten 33-run stand between Ayako Nakayama and Etsuko Kobayashi took them to 97 in their 20 overs.Monali Patel fell early in the chase, but Canada found stability in wicketkeeper Sivanantham, who made 32 off 41 balls. But Japan kept up the pressure, claiming four wickets, including Sivanantham’s, in five overs to leave Canada at 46 for five in the 12th over. As the required rate mounted past six, a 54-run unbeaten stand between Shabbir, who top-scored with 36, with four fours, and Sheryl Tittlemier sealed the win for Canada.In the other Group B clash, Ireland Women, who had put up the tournament’s two highest totals, could only manage 62 for 9 in their 20 overs against Sri Lanka Women and fell to an eight-wicket defeat.After being put in to bat, Ireland lost Clare Shillington, who had come into this match off of two successive match-winning efforts – 81 against Canada and 114* against Japan, and Cecelia Joyce, both bowled by Sripali Weerakkody, in the space of three balls during the second over.Sri Lanka would enjoy further instances of two Ireland batters falling one ball apart from each other – Captain Isobel Joyce was out leg-before and Mary Waldron was caught short of her ground in the 12th over leaving Ireland at 25 for 5, while Melissa Scott-Hayward and Laura Delany fell in the 15th. Ireland had to wait for the final-wicket pair of Elena Tice and Louise McCarthy to record their highest partnership of 23 runs.Sri Lanka began the chase cautiously, ensuring they did not lose any wickets in the first five overs and completed a straight forward chase with 31 balls to spare to record their third win in as many matches in the group stage.Despite their defeats, Netherlands and Ireland will join Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the semi-finals, which will be played on July 29. The top three teams of the tournament will go through to the Women’s World T20 in Bangladesh.

The BCCI has planned a Test series at home in November against West Indies, ahead of the scheduled South Africa tour, thus ensuring Sachin Tendulkar plays his landmark 200th Test at home

Amol Karhadkar01-Sep-2013Other tours approved by the BCCI

Tour to New Zealand in January-February 2014, comprising two Tests and five ODIs

Tour to England between July and September 2014, comprising five Tests, five ODIs and one T20

The BCCI has planned a Test series at home in November against West Indies, ahead of the scheduled South Africa tour, thus giving Sachin Tendulkar the opportunity to play his landmark 200th Test at home; he will perhaps bid farewell to the game at the end of the Test series.Tendulkar, who is two Tests short of becoming the first cricketer to feature in 200 Tests, was expected to put an end to his 24-year sojourn at the highest level at the end of the South Africa Test series. The Tests series against West Indies, which will comprise at least two Tests likely to be played in Kolkata and Mumbai in November, offers him a perfect stage to sign off in his hometown.Following the injury to his left hand while playing for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a league match during IPL 2013, which effectively advanced his IPL retirement, doubts had arisen over the 40-year-old’s participation in the South Africa tour. However, after undergoing a surgery on his injured hand, Tendulkar has been included in the Mumbai Indians’ squad for the Champions League Twenty20.Besides achieving the 200-Test landmark, Tendulkar would also be keen to sign off on a high. The veteran batsman has not been able to score a century in his last 38 Test innings, since his memorable knock of 146 in Cape Town in January 2011. The closest he came to a three figures in Tests since then was against West Indies in November 2011, when he edged one to slips six runs short of what would have been his 100th international hundred at the Wankhede Stadium, his home ground.The BCCI claimed to have received an email from the West Indies Cricket Board confirming its interest in the series, and accordingly placed the proposal before the working committee. The plan for the West Indies series was announced after the BCCI’s working committee meeting on Sunday. Though the BCCI did not specify the number of matches that will be played, ESPNcricinfo understands that the WICB have been offered two options. “The tour could see either two Tests and three ODIs, or three Tests,” a BCCI official said.As important as the series is from the Tendulkar angle, the BCCI was also concerned about a possible dip in its revenues for the current financial year since, after the limited-overs series against Australia in October, India weren’t scheduled to play at home for the rest of the financial year. “That would have meant lesser gross revenue, and profits as a result, than the last year’s,” an insider said. “And it is something that none of the stakeholders in Indian cricket would want.”

Dominic Sibley provided a pleasant footnote to Surrey’s torturous season by becoming the youngest player to score a double century in the County Championship

Alex Winter at The Oval26-Sep-2013
Scorecard’Doing it here at The Oval is great. I had my parents here and my dad came back from Singapore last night’•PA PhotosDominic Sibley provided a pleasant footnote to Surrey’s torturous season by becoming the youngest player to score a double century in the County Championship. It was an extraordinary achievement for an 18-year-old who has to go back to school on Monday.He batted for nine-and-a-half hours and faced 484 balls for his double hundred – concentration not often associated with the current generation of young players weaned on one-day cricket. Of Englishmen, only WG Grace has achieved the feat at a younger age in first-class cricket.Supporters at The Oval have been demoralised this season by an unsuccessful side, the makeup of which has not reflected well on such a famous and wealthy county, but here they could rejoice in a fine young player who has been developed by the club’s academy.Sibley is the latest in a string of home-grown players to appear for Surrey. Their challenge is to ensure they are selected regularly and can develop into established first XI players at the club. Addressing the leakage of talent from The Oval should be high on the agenda of the new head coach.Whoever is appointed will have a very talented young batsman to work with in Sibley, who will surely sign professional terms soon, having only been on a summer contract this season. When he was 15, he made a double-century for his club, Ashtead, and appeared for Surrey 2nd XI, pushed forward by Surrey academy director Gareth Townsend. Last winter he played for England Under-19s in South Africa and scored a century in the second Youth Test.Sibley should have returned to Whitgift School to begin his final year studying Geography, English and PE but was given time off to play the final three fixtures of the season. How he would have cursed missing an innings on a wicket this flat.A-levels will be no trouble for Sibley if he can knuckle down for his exams as he did batting in the morning session. During the first hour he patted back six maidens and found the “Yorkshire Wall” of six men catching in front of the bat impossible to impregnate – inspiration or desperation, it was certainly innovative from Andrew Gale.After 70 minutes Sibley was finally able to play a shot in anger as Ryan Sidebottom took the second new ball and Sibley punched him off the back foot for three through cover. Fifteen minutes later his second aggressive stroke came with a cover drive off Jack Brooks. In total he needed 98 deliveries to take his overnight 81 to three figures, which arrived via a swept four off Adil Rashid.Dominic Sibley: recordbreaker

Youngest player to score a double century in the County Championship

Second-youngest Englishman after WG Grace to score a first-class double hundred

13th youngest player to ever score a double century in first-class cricket

Returns to Whitgift School on Monday to study Geography, English and PE

“It was more relief this morning to get to a hundred,” Sibley said. “I didn’t get much of a chance to score, they bowled well at me and when I did get there I was quite emotional.”I try to keep a familiarity with the way I bat; I always take my guard before each delivery. I keep everything the same and that keeps my tempo going.”I felt good at Somerset and I was disappointed that I didn’t get a big score but I’m pleased that I’ve got a big one before the end of the season. Doing it here at The Oval is great. I had my parents here and my dad came back from Singapore last night.”He loosened up in the afternoon and enjoyed his time with Hashim Amla, having told his mum he wanted to bat with Amla before he returned to South Africa. The pair added the highest third-wicket partnership for Surrey against Yorkshire which helped Surrey make their highest total against Yorkshire in a first-class match.It was too easy for Amla. It was too easy for Vikram Solanki who made 51 in 54 balls. And it may never be easier for Sibley. However, his epic nearly didn’t happen. He was dropped on just 8 on the second day and should have been held on 159 by Jonny Bairstow: a very simple chance from a thin edge. It was a bad lapse in concentration by the reserve wicketkeeper in England’s Ashes squad.Bairstow did not have a great birthday as he also suffered a nervous moment when he slipped near the pavilion boundary having chased a lost cause to fine leg. He fell awkwardly and Jason Gillespie came tearing down from the dressing room with a worried brow but after a few overs of gingerly movement, Bairstow could go back to worrying about his wicketkeeping.

The Mumbai police have outlined how Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf was allegedly given gifts by bookies, passed on match-related information to them, and placed bets on matches while officiating in the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Sep-2013The Mumbai police have outlined how Pakistan umpire Asad Rauf, who was listed as a “wanted accused” in the chargesheet on the IPL betting scandal, was allegedly given gifts by bookies, passed on match-related information to them, and placed bets on matches himself while officiating in the tournament.The police made their case on the evidence of transcripts of recorded phone conversations that Rauf allegedly had with other people accused in the chargesheet, and a large portion of it concerns the period before and after the Delhi police arrested three Rajasthan Royals players following their match against Mumbai Indians, which Rauf umpired, at the Wankhede on May 15.The chargesheet also brought out an alleged link between actor-punter Vindoo Dara Singh, one of the accused, and Rauf through recorded phone conversations. Vindoo was also alleged to have close links with former Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan, who was charged by Mumbai police on Saturday with cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy – including passing on information that compromised the team.”A telephonic conversation between Randhawa [Vindoo Dara Singh] and Rauf at 08:55.14 on May 14 is available. It has a mention of a gold chain gifted to Rauf by wanted accused Sanjay Chhabra alias Sanjay Jaipur and Sandeep Chhabra alias Pawan Jaipur,” the chargesheet said. “Two witnesses have provided additional details in this regard.”At 13:29.44 on May 15, Rauf is heard telling Randhawa in a conversation, ” [Tonight you can make or break your life]”. Immediately after the call, Randhawa called Sandeep Chhabra alias Pawan Jaipur and is heard telling him Rauf has asked him to place huge bets on the said match and all the gifts they have awarded to Rauf will pay off in tonight’s game. This is available in the conversation that took place at 15:41.31 on May 15. Rauf was appointed as umpire for the match between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals on the said day and he is heard telling others to place bets on the match.”At 17:30 on May 15, a conversation is available about Sanjay Chhabra alias Sanjay Jaipur calling Asad Rauf and saying, ” [In the evening, we will do exactly as you have told us].”Following the player arrests in Delhi, wanted accused Sanjay Chhabra alias Sanjay Jaipur called Rauf from the number of witness Mahesh Mishra at 19:56.52 on May 16 and asked him to destroy the sim card that was given to him. Later, even the conversation of Randhawa instructing the same to Rauf is also available. The conversation about wanted accused Asad Rauf placing bets on cricket matches at 22:00.03 is available with Randhawa. The said conversation also mentions the detailed amount and the teams that Rauf has placed bets on.”The chargesheet also contains details of alleged gifts Rauf may have received from bookies and evidence indicating he met with others accused in the case. “As per information provided by accused Prem Taneja, two bags that were to be delivered to Asad Rauf were taken into custody from Air India cargo department at the Mumbai airport. The bags included gifted apparels, shoes and other accessories, shopping bills at Diesel showroom, Asad Rauf’s pass and bills in the name of Asad Rauf Malik.”The footage of Asad Rauf shopping with Prem Taneja at a Diesel showroom has been acquired on May 26. Witnesses Samira Suresh Avdhun, Mushir Rashid Khan have admitted in their statement that for the shopping on April 25 and 26 that Rauf did, Taneja paid the bill while the May 14 bill was paid by Rauf.”The Mumbai police had not been able to question Rauf in relation to the case because he had left India during IPL 2013. Rauf had returned to Pakistan where he held a press conference and stressed that he had not engaged in any corrupt activities, a stance he reiterated on Saturday after the chargesheet was filed.When news had emerged that Rauf was wanted for questioning by police, the ICC issued a release saying that the umpire had been stood down from his duties in the Champions Trophy in England. Rauf was later dropped from the Elite Panel of Umpires </abut the ICC clarified that the situation was not a factor in his exclusion.

Rohit Sharma feels India cannot afford to take Australia lightly during the seven-match ODI series, given the visitors’ experience of playing in Indian conditions

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Oct-2013George Bailey’s side may be no match for the great Australian teams of recent vintage but Rohit Sharma feels India cannot afford to take them lightly during the seven-match ODI series, given the visitors’ experience of playing in Indian conditions.”They are a very competitive side with most of their players having featured in the IPL and the Champions League,” Rohit told . “They know the Indian conditions well. We can’t get complacent against them. Australia on a given day are a very dangerous side.”Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson are the only two players in the Australia squad to have featured in more than 100 ODIs but Rohit refused to read too much into the relative inexperience of the others. “They are still a very competitive side,” Rohit said. “Their batters are match-winners. We have to be at our best against them.”However, Rohit admitted that Australia would miss their regular captain and most experienced player Michael Clarke, whose chronic back problem has ruled him out of the series.Following years of largely underwhelming performances in the middle order, Rohit has enjoyed success after being promoted to open the batting this year, and averages 41.42 in 16 ODIs since. However, his strike-rate in those matches dropped to 68.63 compared to a career figure of 75.61. With two new balls being used in ODIs now, Rohit said an opener had to be watchful initially.”You need to be cautious with the new ball upfront. You have to plan your strategy accordingly. The shot selection becomes important for you as an opener, like what shots you have to play, which areas you have to go after. The new rules are more helpful to bowlers.”

New Zealand captain Kyle Mills and batsman Tom Latham have backed the team to chase down tall scores ahead of the second match in Hambantota

Andrew Fidel Fernando11-Nov-2013A washout after 54.2 overs of the series opener did not reveal the condition of New Zealand’s young batting order, but both captain Kyle Mills and batsman Tom Latham have backed the team to chase down tall scores ahead of the second match in Hambantota.New Zealand were 13 for 1 in pursuit of 289 when the rain came, and though three of their top batsmen are missing from this side, the visitors felt they were favourites to win the first game. They would have had to achieve the second-highest total for any team batting second at the venue, but new ODI rules and expanding match aggregates have made large totals gettable, Latham said.”With the new rules 300 is probably par and to keep them to 280-odd was good,” Latham said. “When we were batting it was skidding on quite nicely. We did back ourselves to chase it.”I can’t see the wicket changing too much, but with the new rules – with only four men out – those bigger scores are possible, and we’ve even seen you can chase them down as well. We’ll assess conditions tomorrow and see what the par score is.”Mills also said he was “content” with the position New Zealand had reached on Sunday and expected the pitch to become better for batting in the evening. A firing middle order also bodes well for Tuesday’s match, he said.”Under lights the wicket can sometimes get a little bit quicker with the dew and the sheen on the wicket,” Mills said. “I thought that if we get a start, we’d be in with an absolute chance. Our guys (have) played a lot of cricket lately, and we’ve got some batters who are in some really good form – you’ve seen that in the last few games.”Both men also singled out Lasith Malinga as a particular threat to their top order, given few of their batsmen have faced him before. Malinga dismissed Anton Devcich in his first over, and had his yorkers humming in the 2.2 overs he bowled in the first match.”The top three got a little sighting of Malinga in the first match and hopefully that experience can stand them in good stead,” Mills said. “He bowled pretty well in his two-and-a-half overs in the first match, and without a doubt he’s a challenge. But he’s always a challenge no matter where you play him in the world.”Latham, who faced 10 Malinga deliveries and scored four runs suggested defence would be his priority when playing the fast bowler. “He was bowling death on demand, which is quite hard to face with it swinging at pace,” Latham said. “He’s obviously one of their key bowlers and if we can deny him as much as possible, and look to take down their other bowlers, that’s going to give us a good chance in the next two matches.”Latham also said New Zealand were upbeat about their chances in Sri Lanka, despite the recent 0-3 ODI series loss to Bangladesh and the absence of key players. The tour is an opportunity for several young players, including Latham, to embed themselves in the team ahead of their home summer.”The boys are gelling well together. That T20 win in Bangladesh gave us a lot of confidence. There’s a good vibe in the group at the moment. It’s a young and inexperienced side, but it’s an exciting tour for all involved.”