SL seek upsurge against injury-hit hosts

Nine game days, three matches, and no victories so far - Sri Lanka had not expected to steamroll their opposition in New Zealand, but the disappointments have now begun to stack up, and a pattern to their woe has emerged.

With the bat, they sustain too many early losses, and even when batsmen play sublime innings, as Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene already have done on tour, they cannot gain enough ground to make up for their teammates' failures. With the ball, Sri Lanka have routinely made headway against the New Zealand top order, only to be scuttled by the batsmen lower down, who dig deep and summon meaningful partnerships.