Eden Park Auckland Pitch Report For New Zealand Vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI

Eden Park Auckland pitch report [Source: @aliumairshahbaz/X.Com]

The stage is set for the 3rd ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka from the Eden Park in Auckland. The match will take place on January 11 and the visiting Sri Lankan side will aim to avoid the whitewash as they are trailing, 2-0.

The Sri Lankan side have played promising cricket throughout the series, but have failed to capitalise on crucial moments as the team now finds themselves closer to an embarrassing series whitewash.

In the first ODI, the Asian giants scored just 178 and the target was chased with utmost ease as the Kiwis won by 9 wickets. In the following game, New Zealand were restricted to just 255, but the Lankan Lions failed to chase it down and the team lost yet another ODI match.

However, the third match at the Eden Park will allow them to salvage some pride and before the contest, we look at the pitch conditions and how will it affect the outcome of the match.

Eden Park Auckland ODI Stats and Records

Eden Park Auckland Pitch Report: Is It Batting Or Bowling Friendly?

Eden Park is generally known as the graveyard for the bowlers, mainly due to how small their boundaries are. The square region is merely 65 meters and the straighter boundaries is a little over 55 meters.

Due to the smaller boundary size, the batters enjoy batting at this venue and they generally target the V region or the front area since it is not even touching the 60 meter mark. The Auckland deck has a bit of spongy bounce and batters, who generally prefer to play on top of the bounce succeed at this venue.

For bowlers who love to hit the deck hard will be more useful due to the spongy bounce and on this pitch, the change off pace won't work. The bowlers need to be wary of their lines and lengths since anything wide and on the pads will easily be dispatched out of the ground.

Bowling first teams have won more matches since they already have a target in front of them at this small venue. Hence, the toss winning captain should bowl first.

Players to watch out for at Eden Park Auckland

Daryl Mitchell

As stated before, the players who target the V region generally succeed at this venue and Daryll Mitchell is one of them. He likes to play straight and can easily clear the 55-meter fence with his brute power.

Plus, Mitchell is in form at the moment and will be a key player in the 3rd ODI against the Sri Lankan side.

Tom Latham

Tom Latham failed in the last match Vs Sri Lanka, but the Kiwi batter has an impeccable record at the Eden Park. In 5 matches here, Latham has racked up 206 runs, at an average of 51, with the highest score of 145 not out.

He relishes batting at the surface and will be eager to end the series on a high at one of his favourite ODI venues.

Lahiru Kumara

The surface at Eden Park needs a hit the deck bowler and despite being out of form, Lahiru Kumara could be the one to watch out for at the venue.

He loves to pepper batters with his short of a length line and this could be the way to stop the New Zealand juggernaut at Eden Park.

---

ALSO READ

SL vs NZ 2nd ODI Highlights: Theekshana's Hat-Trick In Vain As Ravindra, O'Rourke Seal Series Win

---