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Saxton Oval Nelson Pitch Report: How Will The Surface Play For NZ-W vs SL-W 2nd ODI?

Debashis Sarangi

Saxton Oval, Nelson [Source: @WG_RumblePants/X]Saxton Oval, Nelson [Source: @WG_RumblePants/X]

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On Friday, New Zealand Women will lock horns with Sri Lanka Women in the second One-Day International of the ongoing three-match series. The high-octane face-off is scheduled at Saxton Oval in Nelson. 

The first ODI between New Zealand Women and Sri Lanka Women ended in a washout. Batting first, SL-W powered themselves to 147 for five before rain intervened in the high-profile clash. 

Chamari Athapaththu, who left the WPL 2025 for this series, recorded a failure, while Harshitha Samarawickrama stepped up with the bat, slamming a glorious 66-run knock. Bree Illing was the top performer with the ball for the White Ferns, scalping two crucial wickets. 

So, as both teams gear up for a fascinating encounter, let's see how the surface at Saxton Oval in Nelson will behave throughout the contest. 

Saxton Oval Nelson Ground Stats

Criterion
Data
Matches played15
Matches won batting 1st3
Matches won bowling 1st11
Average 1st innings score256
Average 2nd innings score241
Average runs per over5.79
Highest Total364/4
Lowest Total158 all out
% Of Wickets by Pacers 64.59
% Of Wickets by spinners 35.40


Saxton Oval Nelson Pitch Report: Is It Batting Or Bowling Friendly?

The surface at Saxton Oval in Nelson is expected to offer a balanced contest between bat and ball. As it's a day game, the fast bowlers will likely utilise the freshness of the pitch and get a hint of seam movement with the new ball in the first innings. 

As the game progresses, the track might lose moisture and become more favourable to the batters. If the sun beats down, the track might bring the spinners into play in the second innings. However, overall, the conditions will likely be more batting-friendly in the latter half. 

Fast bowlers and top-order batters from the team bowling first and middle-order batters from the team batting first could play a crucial role at this venue. Also, considering the chasing sides have won eleven out of fifteen matches, including men's and women's ODIs, the toss-winner might opt to bowl first.