SL vs NZ 2nd ODI: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Source:@CricCrazyJohns/X.com)Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Source:@CricCrazyJohns/X.com)

Sri Lanka are a team in form and have won lot of matches in recent past. They are currently involved in the ODI series against the Kiwis at home and won the first game on the back of an impressive performance both with the bat and ball. The caravan now moves to Pallekele from Dambulla, and New Zealand would be looking to settle the scores on Sunday.

In the first match, Sri Lanka scored 324 while batting first with Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando scoring centuries. The target was curtailed to 221 in 27 overs for New Zealand due to rain and they could manage just 175 as Lankans delivered a strong bowling performance. Now, with series on the line, it would be interesting to see how the Kiwis tackle the home team and let's see how the pitch will behave at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Ground Stats In ODIs

Data
Criterion
Matches Played45
Matches won batting first17
Matches won batting second26
Average 1st innings score248
Average 2nd innings score204

Pallekele Pitch Report: Batters Or Bowlers, Who Will Be More Successful?

The Pallekele International Cricket stadium is generally known to produce sporty wickets where both batters and bowlers are in the game. It is evident from the middling average first innings score of 248. However, their have been matches where batting teams have scored some big runs and it is the same venue where Pathum Nissanka hit his double ton against Afghanistan in February 2024. In that match, both teams scored over 300 and so Pallekle has the tendency to produce some good batting decks.

The pitch generally does not get as slower in the second half as it does in some other parts of the Island country and so the teams chasing the target have been more successful at this ground. However, pace bowlers do get some movement under lights with the new ball in the second half, but if the batters tackle that phase, batting second is not an issue at this ground. The spinners too have play a role as they normally do in the subcontinent conditions, but it is not a pitch where they generally dominate the proceedings. So, overall, we can expect the team winning the toss to chase and a first innings total of around 300 to be a chaseable target.

Players To Watch Out For At The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium

Pathum Nissanka

Pathum Nissanka has a double century to his name at the Pallekle International Cricket Stadium and is known for his consistency. He fell early in the first ODI and so he would be determined to make a contribution in this game. He bats at the top of the order and so will get enough time to pace his innings, and is surely a player to watch out.

Will Young

Will Young had a brilliant Test series against India recently and it seemed like he brought that confidence into the first ODI where he hit a fluent knock of 48 off 46 balls. He looked the best batter in the Kiwi line-up and once again the onus would be on him to get a big score and help the visitors level the series in Pallekele.

Dilshan Madushanka

Dilshan Madushanka picked three wickets in the last game and could make an impact again with his new-ball skills and clever variations. If he bowls in the second half, he can exploit the seam movement under lights with the new ball and his spell could prove decisive. So, expect him to make an impact.