Sri Lanka will look to bounce back when they take on New Zealand in the first ODI of the three-match series. The game is scheduled to be played on Sunday (January 5) at Basin Reserve, Wellington.
The Islanders lost the recently concluded T20I series against the Black Caps. However, they managed to end the series on a winning note and will look to make the most of the momentum. In the third T20I, Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 7 runs.
Batting first, the Charith Asalanka-led side scored 218/5 in the allotted 20 overs. Kusal Perera played with the bat, scoring 101 runs off 46 balls, while Asalanka also impressed with the bat, scoring 46 off 24 balls.
The Sri Lankan bowlers then held their nerve to lead their team to a hard-fought victory. New Zealand fought back but eventually fell short by 7 runs, finishing on 211/7.
With both teams now gearing up for the first ODI, we look at Sri Lanka playing 11 for the first ODI NZ vs SL.
Sri Lanka 11 vs New Zealand – 1st ODI Sri Lanka Tour of New Zealand 2024-25:
Openers: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (ie)
Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis are expected to be the starters in the Sri Lanka Playing 11 for the first ODI against New Zealand. The onus will be on the openers to give their team a good start with the bat.
Nissanka looked great in the recently concluded T20I series. He scored 90 runs in the first game, though it was in vain in the end as Sri Lanka lost the game by 7 runs. He continued with shots of 37 and 14.
On the other hand, Mendis also started in all three innings but could not score big. In the first match, he scored 46 runs while also sharing a century with Nissanka. In the next two games, the right-handed batsman scored 10 and 22.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c) Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga
Although Avishka Fernando could not impress in the T20I series, he is expected to retain his place in the Sri Lanka playing 11. Fernando played two of the three T20Is against New Zealand and recorded scores of 5 and 17.
Sadeera Samarawickrama is set to return to the Sri Lanka Playing 11 after missing the T20I series. He failed to impress during the home ODI series against New Zealand a few months ago and will be looking at a better performance in the upcoming series.
Kamindu Mendis has been dropped from the Sri Lanka Playing 11 for the third T20I but is expected to return to the squad for the first ODI. He was dropped after going 0 and 7 in the first two games.
Captain Charith Asalanka led from the front in the third T20I and will be eyeing a similar performance in the first ODI. After scoring 46 runs off 24 balls, Asalanka claimed 3 wickets to lead his team to a much needed victory.
Janith Liyanage and Wanindu Hasaranga are expected to be the two all-rounders in the Sri Lanka Playing 11. Liyanage, who was not part of the Sri Lankan squad for the T20Is, will look to make an impact while Hasaranga played in all three matches and picked up 6 wickets.
Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara
Sri Lanka are expected to have three opening bowlers in the team. Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara are expected to be the two fast bowlers while Maheesh Theekshana will be the front line.
