SL vs NZ 1st ODI Preview: Key Players And Stats, Live Streaming, Pitch Report, Probable XIs

Kusal Mendis walks back to the pavilion. [Source: @ImThimira07/X]

Sri Lanka, who most recently hosted New Zealand for a T20I series after five years, are all in readiness of now hosting them for an ODI series after 11 years. With a low-scoring two-match T20I series resulting in a 1-1 draw, fans would be hoping for the three-match ODI series to find an outright winner.

SL vs NZ 1st ODI: Match Details & Live Streaming

SL vs NZ 1st ODI: Breaking Losing Streak On Sri Lanka’s Mind

Sri Lanka, who’ve not defeated New Zealand in a bilateral ODI series since 2012, haven’t won an ODI against them since 2015. In this period, the Black Caps have emerged victorious across eight ODIs (including three ICC Cricket World Cup matches across as many countries) and four bilateral series.

In such a scenario, it is needless to say that Sri Lanka’s first and foremost priority would be around finding ways of becoming triumphant against an inexperienced unit. Barring fast bowler Adam Milne, a last-minute like-for-like replacement for injured Lockie Ferguson in New Zealand’s ODI squad, no other current Kiwi player has played an ODI in Sri Lanka.

Having past laurels on your side is always beneficial but Mitchell Santner and his men will have to work wonders in order to win an ODI series in Sri Lanka for the first time in four decades. Although they’re coming on the back of a historic Test series victory in India, only a handful of players part of the India tour are in Sri Lanka. Speaking of India, Sri Lanka’s last two ODI series wins at home includes defeating India.

SL vs NZ 1st ODI Pitch Report: Dambulla To Do Spinners A Good Turn

With all its eight T20Is coming this year, Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium will now be hosting its first ODI in over six years. Considering how 7.99 has been the average run rate across the three T20I series played here lately, don’t be surprised at the sight of a low-scoring ODI having a lot to offer for the spinners.

For the unversed, former West Indies captain and current head coach Daren Sammy had publicly questioned the wisdom of the home team for preparing spin-friendly pitches for the last two must-win T20Is at this very ground in October. Even in the two Sri Lanka-New Zealand T20Is, spinners had picked 20 wickets in comparison to the pacers’ 16 scalps.

SL vs NZ 1st ODI: Key Players & Stats

• Pathum Nissanka (654 runs at an average of 72.66 and a strike rate of 107.38) is the highest ODI run-scorer in 2024
• Jeffrey Vandersay's ODI average of 14.45 is among the best in 2024
• Barring Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera, no other player across both the squads has ever played a Dambulla ODI

 SL vs NZ 1st ODI: Probable Playing XIs

Sri Lanka Probable Playing XI: 1) Pathum Nissanka 2) Avishka Fernando 3) Kusal Mendis (wk) 4) Kamindu Mendis 5) Charith Asalanka (c) 6) Sadeera Samarawickrama 7) Janith Liyanage 8) Dunith Wellalage 9) Maheesh Theekshana 10) Jeffrey Vandersay 11) Asitha Fernando

New Zealand Probable Playing XI: 1) Henry Nicholls 2) Will Young 3) Mark Chapman 4) Glenn Phillips 5) Michael Bracewell 6) Mitchell Hay (wk) 7) Mitchell Santner (c) 8) Josh Clarkson 9) Zakary Foulkes 10) Jacob Duffy 11) Ish Sodhi

SL vs NZ 1st ODI: Winner Prediction

In what is expected to be a close contest, Sri Lanka have an edge primarily because of the home advantage.

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