Match Center

After an entertaining Dambulla leg of New Zealand's white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, the action now shifts south to the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy for the final two ODIs. The three-match series stands at 1-0 in favour of the hosts, who are eager to extend their impressive home streak, having remained unbeaten in series across formats since September. In the rain-affected opening game, centuries from Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis powered Sri Lanka to an imposing total. Chasing a revised target of 221 runs in 27 overs, New Zealand fell significantly short. The absence of Lockie Ferguson, ruled out of the series due to a calf injury, exposed the inexperience in their pace attack. However, the inclusion of Adam Milne as Ferguson’s replacement adds much-needed experience and stability. On the batting front, the Kiwis had two debutants among their six batters, and their vulnerability against spin as a team was evident. To stay alive in the series, the likes of Will Young, Henry Nicholls, and Glenn Phillips must step up and deliver impactful performances. As for Sri Lanka, they were near flawless in the opening game, with their batters setting a strong foundation and the bowlers complementing with disciplined spells. They haven’t secured qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy but a series win here would boost their morale and reaffirm their dominance at home. Unless there are last-minute injury concerns, the hosts are likely to stick with the same playing XI. Should they seal the series in this second ODI, they may look to rotate players and rest key members ahead of the Test series in South Africa later this month. That said, Charith Asalanka and Co. would not want to look too far ahead and their focus would be firmly on clinching the series. Can the Kiwis muster a spirited comeback to level the series, or will the hosts assert their dominance and seal the series? We shall find out soon enough.