NZ vs SL, 1st ODI | Cricket Exchange Fantasy Teams, Player Stats, Probable XIs and Pitch Report
NZ vs SL, Cricket Exchange Fantasy Predictions: Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand, 1st ODI (Source: Twitter/@OfficialSLC)
The first of the three one-day international matches will see hosts New Zealand rub shoulders with Asian side Sri Lanka. The clash is scheduled to take place at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, March 25 at 6.30 AM IST. Before the game begins, let us take a look at some of the important stats, the prime player picks, and the best-predicted XIs for the fantasy contests of the match.
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After beating Sri Lanka 2-0 in the two-match Test series, the BlackCaps now face the Lankan Lions in the three-match ODI series. The home side is without a host of key players like regular skipper Kane Williamson, veteran pacer Tim Southee, Devon Conway, and all-rounder Mitchell Santner as they are in India to participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the World Cup year, this series presents a perfect opportunity to kick start their preparations for the marquee event set to be held later this year in India.
NZ vs SL, 1st ODI: Pitch Report- Eden Park, Auckland
The surface at Eden Park in Auckland is generally good for batting. Fast bowlers also get a lot of assistance from the strip. It's an extremely small ground as a high-scoring match could be on the cards.
Numbers at the ground (Overall ODI Cricket)
Total Matches: 78
Matches won batting first: 30
Matches won batting second: 43
Tied: 2
No Result: 3
Average score batting first: 218
Average score batting second: 195
Average runs per over: 4.78
Average runs per wicket: 28.56
NZ vs SL, 1st ODI: Head-to-Head
New Zealand and Sri Lanka have met each other 99 times in the history of ODIs with the Kiwis winning on 49 occasions and the Lankan Lions on 41. One game ended up in a tie and eight in no result. This will be the 100th meeting between the two sides in this format.
Head-to-Head (Overall)
Total Matches: 99
New Zealand won: 49
Sri Lanka won: 41
Tied: 1
No Result: 8
Head-to-Head (Last 10 Matches)
New Zealand won: 8
Sri Lanka won: 1
Tied: 0
No Result: 1
NZ vs SL, 1st ODI: Probable Playing XIs
New Zealand Team News
Skipper Tom Latham confirmed that Chad Bowes and Rachin Ravindra will be making their ODI debuts. Rachin replaced Michael Bracewell, who has left to join Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. Speedster Lockie Ferguson got ruled out of the series opener due to injury and Ben Lister will be replacing him.
New Zealand Probable Playing XI
Finn Allen, Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Henry Shipley/Ben Lister, and Blair Tickner.
Sri Lanka Team News
Seasoned campaigner Angelo Mathews is back in the ODI setup after a gap of 2 years and he is expected to slot straight into the playing XI.
Pathum Nissanka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Chamika Karunaratne, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, and Lahiru Kumara.
NZ vs SL, 1st ODI: Top Five Picks
- Daryl Mitchell (NZ): Daryl Mitchell has become a permament member of New Zealand side in all three formats in the last year and a half or so. The right-handed middle order batter was also in good form in the Test series against Sri Lanka as he scored 200 runs in three innings at an average of 66.66 with one century and one fifty.
- Tom Latham (NZ): In the absence of Kane Williamson, Tom Latham will have the dual responsibility of leading the side and handling the middle-order. He averages 35.02 in 113 ODI innings with 7 tons and 18 fifties. Notably, Latham struck his career-best 145* against India in the last game played in Auckland in November last year.
- Matt Henry (NZ): Of all the three formats, ODI is Matt Henry's favourite format as he has a good record and is always a part of the 50-overs setup. Henry has picked up 116 wickets in 63 innings at an average of 25.47 with the best bowling figures of 5/30. Against Sri Lanka, he has 21 scalps in 8 innings to his name.
- Pathum Nissanka (SL): Young 24-year-old Pathum Nissanka has scored the most runs for the Lankan Lions in the ODI format since 2022. He has amassed 563 runs in 12 innings at an impressive average of 51.18 with one century and five half-centuries.
- Angelo Mathews (SL): Experienced campaigner Angelo Mathews last appeared in this format two years back against West Indies. He is making his comeback after a long time but is a proven performer with 5835 runs in 188 innings at an average of 41.67.
NZ vs SL, 1st ODI: Must picks for the match
New Zealand
- Daryl Mitchell
- Tom Latham
- Matt Henry
Sri Lanka
- Pathum Nissanka
- Angelo Mathews
- Wanindu Hasaranga
NZ vs SL, 1st ODI: Risky Picks
New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra
Sri Lanka: Nuwanidu Fernando, Charith Asalanka
NZ vs SL, 1st ODI: Best Captain and Vice-captain choices
- Tom Latham (NZ)
- Angelow Mathews (SL)
- Wanindu Hasaranga (SL)
NZ vs SL, 1st ODI: Team for Head-to-Head Contests
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NZ vs SL, 1st ODI: Team for Head-to-Head Contests (Powered by Cricket Exchange)
Wicketkeeper: Tom Latham, Kusal Mendis
Batters: Glenn Phillips, Pathum Nissanka, Angelo Mathews
All-rounders: Daryl Mitchell, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga
Bowlers: Matt Henry, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara
Captain: Tom Latham
Vice-captain: Angelo Mathews
NZ: 5 Players, SL: 6 Players
NZ vs SL, 1st ODI: Team for Winner Takes All Contests
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NZ vs SL, 1st ODI: Team for Winner Takes All Contests (Powered by Cricket Exchange)
Wicketkeeper: Tom Latham
Batters: Finn Allen, Glenn Phillips, Pathum Nissanka, Angelo Mathews
All-rounders: Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga
Bowlers: Matt Henry, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madusanka, Blair Tickner
Captain: Angelo Mathews
Vice-captain: Glenn Phillips
NZ: 4 Players, SL: 7 Players
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