University Oval Weather And Pitch Report For NZ-W vs SL-W 3rd T20I

University Oval cricket stadium [Source: @BLACKCAPS/X.com]

New Zealand Women will face Sri Lanka Women in the third T20I of the three-match series on Tuesday, March 18. The exciting series-decider match is set to be staged at University Oval in Dunedin.

With the three-match T20I series between New Zealand Women and Sri Lanka Women locked at 1-1, the decisive third T20I promises to be an exciting contest. Led by Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka took an early lead in the series with a dominant seven-wicket victory in the first T20I successfully chasing down New Zealand’s 101 in just 14.1 overs.

However, the White Ferns bounced back in the second game, securing a convincing seven-wicket win after restricting Sri Lanka to 113/7 in 20 overs and chasing the target in 18.3 overs. With both teams showing strong performances, the series decider is set to be a thrilling battle.

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University Oval Weather Today

NZ-W vs SL-W 3rd T20I weather forecast [Source: Screengrab/Accuweather]

The weather forecast according to Accuweather, for March 18 at University Oval in Dunedin suggests challenging conditions for cricket, with thick cloud cover and cooler temperatures expected throughout the day. Rain is likely to taper off, but with a high probability of precipitation at 94%, interruptions are possible. 

The temperature is expected to reach a high of 13°C, though it will feel cooler at around 8°C. Strong south-southwesterly winds of 28 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 69 km/h, could also impact play. 

While thunderstorms are not expected, the persistent overcast skies and 100% cloud cover may assist seam bowlers. With 5.5 hours of rainfall predicted, teams might have to prepare for potential delays and an abandoned match.

University Oval Stats And Records In WT20Is

Is University Oval’s Pitch Batting Or Bowling Friendly?

University Oval Dunedin presents a batting-friendly surface for the upcoming T20I match. Historical data shows moderate to high-scoring encounters with an impressive T20 average in the 140s. 

The venue favours teams batting first and typically produces scores above 120. Fast and fast-medium bowlers enjoy more success than spinners here.

However, as the weather forecast indicates persistent rain and low temperatures, it may impact outfield conditions and ball movement. Therefore, teams winning the toss should look to bat first and set a challenging total.

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