Sri Lanka and New Zealand Women Preview: Team Focus and Pitch Conditions

Hasini Perera, Sri Lanka Women, is next for a quick talk - On the team's response following the opening defeat, Hasini says the squad came together to reflect on what went wrong and used the two days of practice to work on individual areas. She adds that the hope now is to take that preparation and execute it out in the middle.

On working with the new head coach, Perera shares that the atmosphere in the dugout has been positive and straightforward. She notes that he keeps things simple and clear, making it easy for the players to understand their roles and back their plans.

On her own batting form, Perera highlights that the last five to six months have been encouraging, but she is putting all of that aside as she heads into this tournament with a fresh mindset.

Maddy Green, New Zealand Women, is up for a chat - When asked about what the chat was like after the loss, Maddy says it was a disappointing result for them and one the team is keen to put behind them quickly. She notes the side felt they had posted a competitive total on that surface and that the bowling, for the most part, was disciplined enough to create opportunities. She admits that the dropped chances hurt, particularly for a side that takes pride in its fielding standards. Adds that the preparation and work ethic have never been in question, but the challenge now is putting everything together when it matters.

On bouncing back, Green stresses that the focus now is on remaining calm and backing their skills under pressure. She details that the preparation and practice levels in camp have not dropped, and that the group simply needs to convert that work into execution when it counts.

On her own development as a batter, Green underlines that the last few years have been about expanding her shot selection and being more expressive at the crease. She adds that the number six position feels increasingly like her own, and her goal now is to own that role and finish games for New Zealand.

PITCH REPORT - Ian Smith is pitchside with his assessment of the conditions. He mentions the same pitch will be used from the last game. Mentions that the square boundaries are 63 and 65 meters respectively, with the straight hit being 72 meters. Ebony-Rainford Brent joins him and says that the pitch looks absolutely brilliant. Adds that 163 was scored in the last game, and we will more or less see something similar. Shares that whenever the bowlers went short or overpitched, they got punished. Says that Alleyene had a lot of success bowling a bit full, and batters mistimed their shots down the ground, which could be something the bowlers will look to use again in this game.

The captain of Sri Lanka Women - Chamari Athapaththu says they would have bowled first. On how quickly they have adjusted to the conditions, she admits that it is not easy, but as professional players, they have to adapt. About the team combination, she informs that they are going with three changes in the team. On being asked about what the key areas of improvement are from the previous game, Chamari straight up says that they need to improve their bowling and bowl better lines and lengths.

The captain of New Zealand Women - Amelia Kerr says that it is the same wicket as the other night, so they just want to put up runs on the board. Adds that the wicket may get a bit slower later on but still looks pretty good. Mentions that it was a very disappointing effort in the field in the last game. She thought they batted and bowled well, and if they took their chances, they would have won by probably 50 runs. Reckons that they have had a chat about that and will look to improve on it. Informs that they are unchanged.