New Zealand began their World Cup campaign in a blaze, with four wins on the trot, including a nine-wicket rout of England in the opener. Ironically, it was in the hills of Dharamsala that their downward spiral began, after losing to India. That was the start of a four-match losing streak that has left their chances of qualification for the semi-final hanging by a slender thread.

Kane Williamson’s men must defeat underachieving Sri Lanka in their final league fixture at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium today to stay afloat. Victory will not guarantee them a place in the last four, but they will at least have done their bit, which is all they can ask for after the massive setbacks of the last three weeks when they have stumbled from one loss to another, the last of them at this same venue on Saturday against Pakistan. The other contenders for the final semi-final slot are Pakistan and Afghanistan.