Ross Taylor's men will look to get under the skin of pre-tournament favourites Sri Lanka. AFP PHOTO/ Lakruwan WANNIARACHCHI.
March 15, 2011 (Island Cricket): The stats, the facts and the figures leading up to the Group-A clash between Sri Lanka and New Zealand on March 18 (0900 GMT), in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 tournament played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
New Zealand leads the Group-A points table with eight points as a result of four wins and a loss from five matches (NRR +1.957).
Sri Lanka are third in the points table with seven points having won three of their five matches (Lost: 1 – No Result: 1).
The co-hosts, who have already qualified for the quarter final stages, possess the best Net Run Rate in their group (+2.705) leading up to their final group clash.
New Zealand and Sri Lanka have played 72 ODIs and New Zealand lead Sri Lanka 35-32 (Tied: 1 – No Result: 4).
However, New Zealand have struggled to beat Sri Lanka at home, where the hosts have won 12 of their 19 matches against them (No Result: 2).
In the sub-continent, both teams have met on 31 occasions. Sri Lanka lead New Zealand 17-11 (Tied: 1 - No Result: 2).
In World Cups, the two sides have met on seven occasions. Sri Lanka lead New Zealand 4-3.
