GAZE BACKS WHITE FERNS TO RESPOND AGAINST SRI LANKA

Media release

Isabella Gaze insists holders New Zealand have moved on quickly from their defeat against the West Indies as they prepare to take on Sri Lanka in Southampton.

Gaze impressed with a 29-ball 39 for the White Ferns in their opener but a string of dropped catches proved costly as Shemaine Campbelle blasted an unbeaten 90 to consign the reigning champions to a seven-wicket defeat.

An immediate response will be crucial if New Zealand are to defend their crown and Gaze is backing her side to provide one.

“We all know that that was not our standard in the field,” she said. “We've trusted our skill in the past and we know it's not a lack of skill or a lack of effort, it's just one of those nights.

“Cricket can be tough like that. You can really underperform one night and the next game can be a blinder in the field. We know we've got to move on from that. We're really confident going into the next game. 

“We've got four more games to go and if we win all those, we've got a great shot at the semis.

“You have got to park it and move on, get up for the next game and then after that, we can focus on the next.”

New Zealand (ICC T20I Ranking: 4) and Sri Lanka (ICC T20I Ranking: 7) drew 1-1 in a bilateral T20I series last year, with Chamari Athapaththu in the runs on that occasion.

Gaze is well aware of her opposite number’s strengths at the top of the order while she is also braced for a stern test from Sri Lanka’s attack.

“They've got some quality bowlers, so we've really had a focus in the nets today with a few actions and how we can attack their bowling attack,” she said.

“And then obviously Chamari Athapaththu is dangerous with the bat. We've got to take every game as its own and get up for the occasion. And yeah, we've got some key players to keep an eye on tomorrow.”

Sri Lanka are also searching for their first victory of the competition after slipping to an 87-run defeat against England on the opening night.

Vishmi Gunaratne, who will be charged with setting the tone with the bat alongside Athapaththu, is backing her side to give a better account of themselves against the Kiwis.

“Of course England was a tough game,” she said. “That's the nature of a T20 World Cup.

“We didn't do well in our three departments. We worked on that the other day and we are going to give a good fight.

“As an opener, I should adjust to the wickets and I should have some patience in the English wickets. And then I can go aggressively and give a good start for my team.

“T20 is a very fast game and none of our three departments did well in the last match.

“We have had meetings, discussed and planned the game. I think we’ll do something good in the coming match.”