With the exception of Daniel Vettori<\/a>, world-class slow bowlers have been a rarity for New Zealand in all formats. <\/p>\n And while white-ball captain Mitchell Santner has taken that mantle <\/a>as he\u2019s matured, the Black Caps would still expect to be outgunned by other international sides with much deeper playing stocks.<\/p>\n However, the landscape of cricket has changed. While New Zealand doesn\u2019t produce home conditions favouring spinners, opportunities are becoming easier to find elsewhere.<\/p>\n Of the Black Caps\u2019 spin options at this year\u2019s T20 World Cup, Santner, Ish Sodhi, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra have all spent time playing in franchise leagues overseas. <\/p>\n That, coupled with a power shift that\u2019s seen more international tournaments played in the Indian subcontinent, has meant Kiwi spinners have arguably never enjoyed such favourable conditions.<\/p>\n Sri Lanka found that out the hard way<\/a> this morning. With a home curator at Colombo\u2019s R. Premadasa Stadium, the pitch for the Super Eights clash was naturally prepared to give the co-hosts the edge, in conditions the Black Caps hadn\u2019t experienced during this year\u2019s tournament.<\/p>\n But once they\u2019d recovered from 84-6 to post 168-7, courtesy of a record partnership between Santner and Cole McConchie, the Black Caps spinners rewrote Sri Lanka\u2019s script.<\/p>\n In total, 17 of the 20 overs bowled by New Zealand were spin, as the hosts quickly fell behind the required run rate and the top order succumbed to the pressure created by Santner and co.<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Part-timers Ravindra (4-27) and Phillips (1-21) got through four overs each. <\/p>\n Lockie Ferguson, the Black Caps\u2019 fastest bowler and previously their best of the tournament so far, was thrown the ball for only one over.<\/p>\n This is hardly the first time teams have prepared pitches to suit their spinners only to be undone by the Black Caps.<\/p>\n In December 2023, they defeated Bangladesh in a test that lasted just 170 overs, as the hosts looked to spin them out in Dhaka.<\/p>\n Less than a year later, they sealed a famous 3-0 away series win over India, also in conditions doctored for the home side.<\/p>\n That\u2019s not to say the Black Caps are impervious to slow bowling. On their last visit to Sri Lanka, a 2-0 test series defeat ended Tim Southee\u2019s captaincy.<\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n But asked about the performance of the spinners in Colombo, man-of-the-match Ravindra said the collective display wasn\u2019t \u201canything special\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of it is backing what we do and trusting our method. We\u2019re used to bowling overspin in New Zealand; you\u2019re not getting that much purchase, so you hope for a bit of dip, bounce and guile. That wicket was suitable for that.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about hard work, training and communication between the spin group. Santner is one of the best white-ball spinners in the world, who tells you what to bowl. That helps, having him at extra cover.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got guys who have a lot of experience. Ish has played over 100 T20s, Cole has played a lot of domestic cricket, GP is going from strength to strength with his off-spin.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just there to chip in a couple here and there. Hopefully, we can take that going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n While not through to the final four yet, a win or washout against England on Saturday morning (NZT) will be enough for the Black Caps to progress. <\/p>\n AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.<\/a><\/p>\n Defeat will leave them waiting on Pakistan 24 hours later, who could pip the Kiwis on net run rate, against a Sri Lankan side with nothing to play for.<\/p>\nThe Black Caps celebrate a Rachin Ravindra wicket against Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup.<\/p>\n