Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Match Preview, 1st ODI

Sri Lanka and New Zealand. (Source – Getty Images)

Sri Lanka (SL) will take on New Zealand (NZ) in the first ODI at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla on November 13. The two-match T20I series resulted ended 1-1 and was shared by both teams. New Zealand managed to pull the strings back in the second T20I, thanks to Glenn Phillips, who defended eight runs off six balls with well-set, Pathum Nissanka on strike.

When it comes to the 50-over format, Sri Lanka are riding high on confidence. They beat India in the ODI series by 2-0 and subsequently won the ODI series against West Indies by 2-1. The team seems to have found its mojo in the shorter format of the game. They have showed glimpses of their vintage self in the red-ball cricket too, thwarting New Zealand by 2-0 in the recently concluded Test series.

Also Read: Ferguson’s stunning hat-trick shatters Sri Lanka’s middle order as New Zealand defend 108

Match Details

Pitch Report

The Rangiri Dambulla Stadium pitch is a lot on the drier side. Spinner tends to get more assistance on this pitch in comparison with the pacers. The batters will find the ball coming onto the bat nicely at the start but timing will become crucial as the game settles in. The weather conditions will be overcast and an 80 per cent chance of rain during the game.

SL vs NZ Predicted Playing XI

Sri Lanka

The onus will be on the likes of Dunith Wellalage and Janith Liyanage to deliver goods with the ball and make the most of the spinning conditions. Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka’s form will be crucial and the middle order is sandwiched between them.

Predicted XI: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando.

New Zealand

Lockie Ferguson was replaced by pacer Adam Milne as the latter got injured ahead of the ODI series. The fact that barring Milne, no other Kiwi player in the current squad has played an ODI in Sri Lanka will leave them to prove more.

Predicted XI: Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Hay (wk), Mitchell Santner (c), Josh Clarkson, Zakary Foulkes, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi.