10 points and some parchments to scribble tirades on, for anyone who can guess which team has the best win-to-loss ratio in ODIs this year. Here’s a hint, that team is not featuring in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy next month. It’s Sri Lanka, the team who has been on fire ever since their dismal ODI World Cup in 2023, which also ousted them from the Champions Trophy. But now, that decision seems a little too rushed and unfair. Out of 18 ODI games the Islanders have played this year, they lost only 3. And mind you, among those they defeated in the one-dayers were teams like New Zealand and India.
This makes facing them a big challenge for New Zealand even after the Kiwis managed to get better of them in the T20 leg of this series. The hosts also have another problem to deal with and that is the absence of their key players, who are away to play franchise leagues. The fact they have only played three ODIs this year and won none does not make the prospects any more promising for them. However, with the Champions Trophy just seven weeks away, Sri Lanka are the best opposition they could get to shake the rust off.
Team Overview:
Sri Lanka have almost the same squad that faced New Zealand back home in November. Uncapped Eshan Malinga is in the frame for a debut and he will join Lahiru Kumara to perform the pace duties for the team. Sri Lanka have also dropped Sadeera Samarawickrama, whose lean patch refused to subside. Nuwanidu Fernando is likely to come in for him to bolster the Sri Lankan batting more. Wanindu Hasaranga is also back to the format after recovering from his hamstring injury.
Kane Williamson, Finn Allen, Adam Milne, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, and Tim Seifert – are all away to play either the SAT20 or the BBL. This leaves the new captain Mitchell Santner with a very young squad. However, Santner will have some experienced lot at hand as well. Will O’Rourke, Will Young, and Tom Latham will return to the ODI side after missing the T20I series. Jacob Duffy will be the player to watch out for following his successful outing in the three-match T20I series.
Head-to-Head Matches:
Both teams have played 105 ODI matches against each other, with New Zealand winning 52 games. Sri Lanka were the better side in 43 of these matches and nine games ended without any result, while one was tied.
Weather and Pitch Report:
Basin Reserve has hosted only four ODI games in the last thirteen years. The last time a 50-over game was played here was in 2021, However, England played a Test match here just last month. The surface had brownish grass on it which dried out soon to dish out a flat surface. So, a run galore can be expected in the ODI game here as well. Team batting first can hope to exploit the conditions to their favour more ruthlessly.
Wellington has been receiving plenty of rain lately. Although the clouds are forecasted to refrain from leaking during the game, it is going to be very windy with the winds crossing 40 km/h.
Prediction:
Sri Lanka are in some form in ODIs lately. It would be a challenge, and a tough one at that, to defeat them in the first ODI.
Where to Watch:
New Zealand: TVNZ1, Sports Nation, and The ACC
Sri Lanka: Dialog TV
Pakistan: Tapmad
India: Sony Sports, Sony LIV
UK: TNT Sports
Australia Kayo Sports
