Ravindra and Black Caps warm up for Champions Trophy in dominant style

By Kris Shannon

A thoroughly successful series for the Black Caps comes with only one drawback – they now have to wait several weeks for the start of the Champions Trophy.

The way they dismantled Sri Lanka both in Wellington on Sunday and in Hamilton tonight, Mitchell Santner and his side must be desperate to mount their challenge for that crown.

New Zealand followed their nine-wicket win in the series opener with a 113-run victory in game two, adding the ODI prize to a T20 triumph over the same opposition.

After Rachin Ravindra (79 off 63) paced an innings of 255-9, providing the rapid start required once rain had shortened the game to 37 overs, Sri Lanka wilted to 142 under the Seddon Park lights.

Three wickets in five balls thwarted the tourists’ hopes of saving the series as early as the fifth over, as Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner combined to dispatch the top order.

The one-way traffic began when Ravindra strode to the crease, with only a terrific catch preventing further damage. The Black Caps will hope that is now saved for the Champions Trophy, this particular weapon no longer a secret.

When Ravindra last played a world tournament on the subcontinent, he went away outside the first-choice XI and came home a destructive force. Fifteen months later, following what by his standards was a fallow period, opposition attacks should again be on red alert.

The breadth of his shotmaking means Ravindra threatens every type of bowler, mixing power and precision while cracking the ball over or carving it through the field.

The 25-year-old’s breezy ability to compile was seen in last month’s test series defeat by England, but only infrequently. All too often, a fluid swish of the bat was followed by his head being thrown back, promising starts undone by a regrettable decision when offered width.

After kicking off the India tour with a couple of match-winning contributions, Ravindra’s following nine test innings – spanning the England series – produced an average of 16.3. His next two trips to the crease – both in the shortest form – brought nine runs.

Then, playing with the freedom of a series already won, 69 runs flowed from 39 balls in the third T20 against Sri Lanka. And now, with 79 added to the 45 he notched in the first ODI at the Basin Reserve, it’s easy to see why Ravindra considers this his favourite format.

That designation is also understandable when remembering how he announced his arrival in world cricket.

Ravindra’s three hundreds and two fifties at the ODI World Cup in India were possible only owing to Will Young missing the final warm-up match and Kane Williamson missing the tournament’s opening games through injury.

This time, he’s guaranteed his place across the border in Pakistan – and the scouting report from this series will make bowlers wary.

The left-hander’s elegance was on display in the seventh over at Seddon Park, uncorking back-to-back drives to the fence – either side of a fielder at mid-off – after Young’s off stump had been knocked over.

Ravindra and Mark Chapman (62 off 51) made Sri Lanka rue their decision to bowl, putting on 112 from 91 balls to seize a level of control the hosts wouldn’t cede.

Both batters registered half-centuries with towering sixes but neither was able to convert, Chapman tossing away his wicket while holing out and Ravindra tipping his cap to a fine catch from Charith Asalanka.

Although wickets continued tumbling and only three more batters reached double figures, the initial partnership seemed sufficient once Sri Lanka’s innings fell apart in the space of five minutes.

The collapse to 22-4 was sparked by Duffy removing Kusal Mendis, with replays finding a faint outside edge after another good review from Santner, before Henry picked up Avishka Fernando the following ball.

The tourists’ chances were soon in tatters as Santner produced a replication of his excellent runout in the first ODI, this time with more than one stump in his sights while collecting and flicking in one diving motion.

Kamindu Mendis (64 off 66) at least attempted a one-man revival, but Will O’Rourke (3-31) recorded new best ODI figures to leave Sri Lanka awaiting a return to the subcontinent.

Based on the way they have played this series, the Black Caps will be eager to join them.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission