Defending champions England and New Zealand hope to put their World Twenty20 campaigns back on track after losing their Super Eights Group One matches in Pallekele stadium on Thursday
England were edged out by 15 runs in an exciting finish to their match against the West Indies, while New Zealand fought back to tie the regular match before going down in Super Over to the hosts Sri Lanka.
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England next face New Zealand here on Saturday, a must-win match for both the teams, with Broad relishing the challenge.
Stuart Broad reacts after dismissing West Indies’ Marlon Samuels on Thursday. Pic/AFP
“The next two games are must-win,” said Broad, whose team also face Sri Lanka on Monday. The top two teams from each of the two groups will qualify for the semi-finals before the October 7 final.
“That’s a good place to be as well. You have clear targets of what you have to achieve. We’ve played on this ground, know what to expect. We have two huge games and some positive signs. We just need to put it all together.”
Broad said New Zealand were a big challenge. “We know the dangers they pose. They have a powerful batting line-up with (Brendon) McCullum, (Martin) Guptill and (Ross) Taylor,” Broad said, also naming left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori as England’s nemesis. “Vettori has been a thorn in our side for a long time. It’s important we don’t look too much at the oppo
sition,” Broad said.
New Zealand captain Ross Taylor praised his team’s fightback in their thriller against Sri Lanka. “To lose tight matches is always disappointing, but from the situation we were in I thought we fought back very hard and never gave up. I am prou
d of the way we fought to the bitter end,” said Taylor.
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