Blackcaps stalwart Ross Taylor's outstanding 12 months of ODI cricket has set him in perfect stead for the upcoming Cricket World Cup.
The 34-year-old has produced some of the best cricket of his career over the past two years. He's averaged 70 since the start of 2017 in the 50 over game.
In 2018, he put up 91.28 in ODI's, including four fifties and two hundreds, with a highest score of 181no against England.
Taylor's been quietly pleased with his rich vein of form, which he'll look to carry through to this year's tournament in May.
"I've been happy," said Taylor. "It's a World Cup year, personally a big focus for me.
"There are still a few things to work on, but hopefully, I can continue the form over the summer."
The Blackcaps have scored more than 300 runs in both ODI's against Sri Lanka, and Taylor expects totals in England and Wales to be similar.
"I think the scores at the World Cup will be very high scoring. Obviously, we need to find a way of restricting them and getting there with the bat."
The Blackcaps were cruising in their second ODI against Sri Lanka at Bay Oval, when Thisara Perera smacked an inspirational innings of 140 off 74 balls to bring them just 22 runs shy of an unlikely win.
"I thought we played very well up until the last 20 overs," Taylor noted.
"Perera batted very well, probably deserved a little bit more than what he got."
Taylor said the fans could expect more of the same, when the two sides meet on Tuesday in Nelson.
"It's another good wicket and probably smaller boundaries then the Mount, so scores of over 300 will probably be par for the course."
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Join us at 11am Tuesday for live updates of the Blackcaps vs Sri Lanka ODI from Nelson.
