Lankan team inspired by resort delights

By Sophie Hazelhurst

QUEENSTOWN: Cricket fans in Queenstown for today's one-day international are in for a treat, Sri Lankan coach Tom Moody promised yesterday.

The former Australian international said he expected the game against the Black Caps would be a high-scoring crowd-pleaser, setting the scene for the big New Year's Eve celebrations.

Moody and the majority of the 16-strong Sri Lankan squad went for a spin in a Shotover Jet boat yesterday, in sparkling morning sunshine on a crystal-clear Shotover River. Brilliant, was Moody's verdict. "It's really something different for the lads. They've never done anything like this before." Shotover Jet marketing manager Dzin Wilson said it was a pleasure to welcome the team on board.

"Obviously, it's pretty fantastic that these guys are able to come back to Queenstown after the tragedy last year, and the disappointment of having to cancel the tour."

Team captain Marvan Atapattu said he did not want the players to be too distracted by the anniversary of the tsunami which hit Sri Lanka last year. Moody said the team was making an effort to have a look around and relax before today's game. "It's just great, particularly when you're in such a picturesque part of the world."

While the players were still recovering from jet lag yesterday, Moody said they were looking forward to today's game. It will be entertaining for the crowd. Looking at past results for this ground, you can see it will be high-scoring. New Zealand Cricket spokesman Brad Patterson said the 9500 tickets allocated to the game had almost sold out by late yesterday afternoon. There were only a couple of hundred left, and the game was expected to sell out.

[Otago Daily Times]