The ODI series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka continues on Sunday evening UK time when just 48hrs after beginning the series the two sides meet in the second match.
After demolishing the visitors in the first match, New Zealand will look to go two up with three to play while Sri Lanka will know this is a match they need to win to give themselves any realistic chance of landing the overall honours.
New Zealand exposed Sri Lanka’s top order in the opening match and having restricted them to 27/5 at one point it was always a case of how quickly the home side would win from there. They might well have been disappointed to let Sri Lanka get 188 from that position but it was an easy day’s work for the Kiwis.
Kane Williamson missed the opening match with a knee issue. Officially he is being assessed ahead of this match but given how emphatically New Zealand won the opening match there is no need to rush him back. Tim Southee and Trent Boult remain on the rested list.
Sri Lanka can take one or two positives from the first game but at the same time they need to appreciate they have to play a whole lot better in this match. To get a total like they did from the position they were is a positive as is the form of Milinda Siriwardena. He could get a more prominent role.
I’d be surprised if Sri Lanka don’t make changes to their bowling attack for this game. Ajantha Mendis was taken apart and with Senanayake in the sheds that would look an obvious change. The batsmen have probably earned another go although Lahiru Thirimanne could go back to opening.
This second match of the series is played at the Hagley Oval, just like the first one was. I didn’t see another wicket being prepared so I’m guessing the Christchurch groundsman will use the same deck. It played well on Boxing Day and given that New Zealand only batted 20 odd overs it shouldn’t have changed too much.
This is a big game for Sri Lanka. Winning the series will be very tough if they don’t win this match. They’ve generally batted alright on this tour so if their bowlers can restrict New Zealand with a couple of early wickets this should be a much more competitive game than the first one was.
One bet I’m interested in here is the boundaries. I mentioned in the first match that sixes don’t come along too often here and annoyingly Nuwan Kulasekara of all people belted five sixes so that puts me off taking unders in sixes here especially as Sri Lanka are unlikely to be 27/5 again.
Given that there were 50 boundaries in a match where the side batting first were 27/5 and having to take no risks and rebuild the potential for the 57.5 line to be covered here is vast. If New Zealand bat first the way they go they could challenge the total themselves but Sri Lanka have players like Dilshan, Chandimal and Mathews who can find the rope when they spend time at the crease so that line looks achievable to me.
I’ll take another too and it involves Mitchell McClenaghan, a man I’m a big fan of. He always seems to take wickets in ODIs against Sri Lanka in particular but in ODIs full stop. He has bowled in nine ODIs against Sri Lanka and taken two or more wickets in eight of them so there is something about this opponent he likes.
Given his record against them and the fact two wickets here would cover his performance line of 34pts with a bit to spare I’ll take him to cover that for the ninth time in 10 full matches against the Asian side.
Back Over 57.5 boundaries for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with William Hill
Back M.McClenaghan’s Performance Pts – 34&Over for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
