ICC World Cup 2019: Match 3, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka: Captain and vice-captain for Dream11 Fantasy

Sri Lanka has had to go through a rather tough phase in international cricket. Leave alone finding the right playing combination, the team has strained to find even the appropriate captain. After making his ODI comeback, Dimuth Karunaratne won his first match as a skipper against Scotland. However, the Lankans lost both their games against South Africa and Australia in the warm-ups of the World Cup.

Karunaratne & Co are now scheduled to lock horns against New Zealand in their first match of the main round versus New Zealand at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. The Black Caps had a decent outing against India, but couldn’t save themselves from a hefty defeat at the hands of the Windies. Earlier this year, the Lankans lost their three-match ODI series versus the Kiwis, losing all three encounters.

Here is the guide to select the Captain and vice-captain for Dream11 Fantasy:

Captain Suggestions:

Martin Guptill

The 32-year-old has been straining with poor form for quite some time now. Back in January, he couldn’t deliver against India. However, he found his mojo in the ODI series against Bangladesh in February, having notched a couple of centuries. In the World Cup warm-ups, he could score only 22 and 5. He had a great tournament back in 2015 and the Kiwis will need their gun batsman to fire on all cylinders.

Dream11 Credits: 9.5

Kane Williamson

The 28-year-old has been a fulcrum of the New Zealand batting unit. He doesn’t play the big and booming shots but ensures that the scoreboard keeps ticking. Most importantly, he delivers when the chips and are down and his team is in trouble. Even in the warm-ups, he had a couple of good outings. He notched 67 and 85 runs respectively and is looking all set to weave his magic in the World Cup.

Dream11 Credits: 10

Dimuth Karunaratne

Karunaratne looked good in the three matches, showing signs of maturity even after not playing ODI cricket for as many as four years. The left-hander doesn’t go for the attacking strokes and takes his time initially. Gradually, when he gets the measure of the conditions, runs start flowing of his willow. In the first warm-up, he got a handy 87 against the Proteas, though it came in a losing cause.

Dream11 Credits: 8.5

Vice-captain suggestions:

Thisara Perera

Perera can be a tad lacklustre on a few days, but when he gets going, very few can put a halt to his surge. The Kiwis would very well remember the 140 he scored against them in Mount Maunganui in January where he almost snatched defeat from the jaws of defeat. He couldn’t quite make much of an impact in the warm-ups, but undermining him won’t be the wisest thing to do by any means.

Dream11 Credits: 9.5

Trent Boult

Boult has been a fulcrum of the Black Caps setup for quite a few years. Time and again, he has delivered, and on pace-friendly conditions, the southpaw can produce unplayable thunderbolts. India got a glimpse of his prowess earlier this year in January and also in the first warm-up when he ran through the star-studded top order of the Men in Blue. His role will be key in the next encounter.

Dream11 Credits: 9

Kusal Mendis

The 24-year-old has loads of promise, but an ODI average of 28.67 doesn’t quite justify the potential he possesses. He has 15 fifties, but only one century, which shows that he doesn’t convert his starts. Even in the two warm-ups, he got out after scoring 37 and 24 respectively. Before that, he got a quickfire 66 versus Scotland. The youngster needs to be on his mark in Lanka’s first match tomorrow.

Dream11 Credits: 9

Final picks for your Dream11 Fantasy team

For Head to Head/Small Leagues:

Captain – Martin Guptill | Vice-captain – Thisara Perera

For Grand/Mega Leagues:

Captain – Kane Williamson | Vice-captain – Kusal Mendis

*Disclaimer: These picks were made based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.

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