Intro:

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews believes his team would need quickly forget the losses and regain the winning ways as they open their ICC Cricket World Cup campaign against co-hosts New Zealand at Christchurch.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Angelo Mathews, Captain, Sri Lanka, (on recovering from a string of losses recently in New Zealand) " In the recent past especially in New Zealand, we found ways to losing games more than winning games, and I think our late middle order haven't produced good results for us. But I'm pretty sure...we had couple of bad practice matches as well, but we were trying things we gave guys the opportunities and we were trying a few things so we're not really concerned. But when it comes to tomorrow, everyone needs to be on their guard and be positive"

SOUNDBITE: (English) Angelo Mathews, Captain, Sri Lanka, (on advantages of having played in New Zealand for the past month) " Yeah, of course. I mean, it's nice to have played a bit more cricket in New Zealand before the start of the World Cup, but I think from tomorrow onwards, whoever plays the best cricket will obviously go on to win. But I think we have a slight advantage. We got used to the conditions, and we have a fair idea of what the week could be like. But I think we've got to be aggressive and play good cricket to win against New Zealand. They are on a roll. They've been in plenty of games in the recent past, so we need to back ourselves and go out there and be positive."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Angelo Mathews, Captain, Sri Lanka (on whether Malinga will play against New Zealand) "The final eleven we still haven't decided, but yeah, Lasith will definitely be playing, and he is fit to go".