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Summary Hosts Sri Lanka hope their magician spinner Ajantha Mendis recovers in time to face New Zealand.
The former is going to face the latter in opening Super Eights match at Pallekele on Thursday.The 25-year-old spinner took 6-8 against Zimbabwe -- the best figures in all Twenty20 cricket -- in a group D match before a side strain ruled him out of his teams second outing, against South Africa at Hambantota.Team manager Charith Senanayake said Mendiss progress will be monitored, while coach Graham Ford feared it would be a big blow if Mendis fails to recover.With the way he bowled and the X-factor he brings, it would be a big blow, said Ford.In T20 cricket you want guys who can win matches on their own and hes one of those guys, said Ford of Mendis, who only returned to international cricket during this World Twenty20 after an eight month injury lay-off.But Ford insisted Sri Lanka have bowlers to make up for Mendiss absence.We have a number of quality spinners, fortunately, so if Ajantha cant play we have very capable back up, said Ford of the squad which also have spinners Rangana Herath and uncapped Akila Dananjaya.Ford hinted Dananjaya might play in case Mendis doesnt recover in time.Hes certainly very close to playing. He was probably going to play against South Africa and then the game got reduced and there was the chance he wouldve been bowling with a wet ball, said Ford of the 18-year-old, selected in the squad on the recommendations of skipper Mahela Jayawardene.Title-holders England face the West Indies in Super Eights group one, also here on Tuesday. Pakistan meets South Africa and India play Australia in group two matches in Colombo on Friday.
