The second ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka will be held on Wednesday as the two teams go head to head again following a one-sided opener. Get our latest expert New Zealand vs Sri Lanka match preview, predictions and picks below.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI Information
- Venue: Seddon Park, Hamilton
- Date: Wednesday, January 8
- Time: 2 pm local (1 am GMT or 6.30 am IST)
- How to Buy New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI Tickets? You can get all the information about this here.
What Have The Two Teams Done Recently?
New Zealand
New Zealand featured in just three ODIs in the entire 2024 of which one game was abandoned due to rain. They lost that series 2-0, the defeat having come at the hands of Sri Lanka.
They are coming off a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka in the T20Is and went on to defeat them in the first game of this series rather easily.
Sri Lanka
Much like New Zealand it was against them only that Sri Lanka played their last ODI series and won it 2-0 back home.
However, unlike New Zealand, Sri Lanka was involved in a crazy amount of ODI cricket in the entire 2024 year. They featured in 16 completed matches and rather stunningly, won 12 and lost just three of them.
This included a 2-0 win over India in a home series.
They would have given themselves a good chance of winning the opener, instead, they fell to a nine-wicket defeat with over 23 overs to spare.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head Stats
- Overall New Zealand vs Sri Lanka ODI Head-to-Head: There have been 97 completed ODIs between these two teams before this and New Zealand lead 53-43 on head-to-head with a game having ended in a tie.
- Over the previous 11 ODIs played between these two sides, New Zealand have won nine. The two they lost came in the last two games which were held in Sri Lanka as recently as November last year.
- It’s 31-12 in favour of New Zealand at home after their win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI Preview & Predictions
Once you are reduced to 23 for four in an ODI, a comeback is almost impossible and that’s exactly what New Zealand dished out to Sri Lanka.
Sure, Avishka Fernando’s half-century still managed to hold the innings together while some responsibility from those down the order – Janith Liyanage, Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Wanindu Hasaranga – pushed them to 178 but that was never going to be enough.
Sri Lanka’s issue in the first game, as it would be for the rest of the series if they don’t come back with better plans is how they tackle Matt Henry. Henry is in the form of his life and figures of 4/19 from 10 prove just that.
If they look to take the defensive route against him, there will be that need to go after the other seamers and that could give the likes of Jacob Duffy and Will O;Rourke a chance to get among the wickets too.
New Zealand batters got a good match practice in their short chase and Will Young proved, once again, what he’s capable of in his current form. He could well be the batter that Sri Lanka find most difficult to dislodge.
Expect New Zealand to pile on the misery yet again in Sri Lanka.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Match Winner
- New Zealand to win: 4/9
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Top Batsman
- Top New Zealand Batter – Rachin Ravindra: 17/4
- Top Sri Lanka Batter – Pathum Nissanka: 4/1
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Top Bowler
- Top New Zealand Bowler – Will O’Rourke: 7/2
- Top Sri Lanka Bowler – Wanindu Hasaranga: 11/4
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Toss Prediction
- Sri Lanka to win the toss: 10/11
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Other Predictions
- Team of Top Batter – New Zealand: 8/11
*odds correct at the time of writing.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Squads
New Zealand ODI Squad:
Sri Lanka ODI Squad:
Charith Asalanka (captain), Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Nishan Madushka, Janith Liyanage, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Lahiru Kumara, Mohamed Shiraz, Eshan Malinga
How to Watch New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI Live?
This NZ v SL game will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network on TV in India with SonyLiv live streaming the event. New Zealand fans can watch it on Sky Sports while in Sri Lanka, this game can be watched with IPTV, Supreme TV, Ten Cricket and Dialog.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Series Schedule
- 1st T20I: December 28 at Mount Maunganui
- 2nd T20I: December 30 at Mount Maunganui
- 3rd T20I: January 2 at Nelson
- 1st ODI: January 5 at Wellington
- 2nd ODI: January 8 at Hamilton
- 3rd ODI: January 11 at Auckland
