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NZ pair doubtful to face Sri Lanka

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MUMBAI, India -- New Zealand strike bowler Shane Bond and all-rounder Scott Styris are doubtful for Friday's Champions Trophy Group B match against Sri Lanka.

Injury-prone fast bowler Bond missed the opening match against South Africa on Monday with a back problem while Styris had a hamstring twinge.

"They trained today but we won't know until tomorrow morning really," said New Zealand team spokesman Lindsay Crocker.

Despite the duo's absence, the former champions carved out an impressive 87-run victory against the South Africans.

Sri Lanka lost a thriller to Pakistan by four wickets in their opening encounter in Jaipur on Tuesday.

"The biggest worry for us is that we have been inconsistent in big tournaments," said New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming.

"What we are trying to do is put together a series of games that not only get us through to the semifinals but win the competition," added the 33-year-old left-handed opener, who played a match-winning 89 against South Africa.

"I think we stack up pretty well. The one guy we don't stack up against is (Muttiah) Muralitharan and there is only Shane Bond who stacks up against him," he said, referring to the Sri Lankan spinner.

Fleming expects experienced left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori to play an important role on Friday.

Pacemen Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram and off spinner Jeetan Patel took three wickets each in the last match on a spinner-friendly Brabourne Stadium pitch.

"Vettori's ability, his suppleness and his guile with the ball, is going to be crucial to us," he said.

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