New Zealand were made to work a lot harder than they would have liked in the opening match of two against Sri Lanka in Dunedin last week but having got the job done in the end the Kiwis head to Hamilton this week looking to secure the Test series between the two sides.
New Zealand head to Seddon Park knowing only a draw is needed for them to win the series but things are pretty close in the world rankings these days so they will be all about the win. Sri Lanka have to win to get a share of the series to take into the one dayers with them.
Both openers laid the platform for the win in the first game for New Zealand and that allowed the likes of Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson to score freely and put some time back into the game which is just how Test cricket is played these days.
Sri Lanka had no threat with the ball in Dunedin and paid the price for it. In fairness they coped pretty well against a good attack when they had the bat in their hands but they were under pressure from the opening session of the match and never quite recovered.
New Zealand are unlikely to make any changes for this match. They’ve no need to change their bowling attack and their batting line up is going along nicely enough that change would only be to rest players but there is a bit of a break after this game for Christmas.
Angelo Mathews has hinted that his side will be unchanged too but having seen the wicket they might be tempted to play the extra batsman and rely on his own seamers a little more to balance the side to push for the win they seek.
Seddon Park in Hamilton is the venue for this second match. There have been 20 previous Tests on this ground with New Zealand having won eight of the 14 matches which had a result. Sri Lanka have been here twice and are still searching for their first win.
The wicket here usually gives some assistance to the spinners but a quick look at the pictures being released from the ground shows that is unlikely to happen here. The wicket looks so green it is actually hard to make out the pitch from the outfield so it is likely to be quite lively and more suited to the seamers.
One thing I don’t see given the look of the wicket is a drawn match here. I think both sides will enjoy the conditions with the ball in hand and we could be set for a lower scoring game than the one in Dunedin.
If this comes down to a battle of the seamers, and it looks like it might well do, then you would think this will be a no contest given the quality of artillery that New Zealand have but they’re pretty short to win and I’m already effectively on them to win having taken the Kiwis to win the series 2-0 so I’ll leave the match outcome alone.
There is a bet that I like in the match though and it comes in the form of the player performance markets and the man in question is Rangana Herath.
His line is 105.5 which normally would be a runner but the way this wicket looks and is expected to play it looks way too high. This is a match which will be dominated by the seamers, at least in the early stages, and I would be surprised if Herath bowls much in the first innings unless Sri Lanka are totally incompetent with the ball.
If that is the case they might only bowl once in the match but whichever way you look at it Herath’s bowling efforts could be restricted to one proper innings. He isn’t going to chip in with too many catches and looked gun shy with the bat in the first game so I don’t see where the bulky spinner gets anywhere near 105pts in this match.
Back R.Herath’s Performance – Under 105.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Paddy Power
Blog cricket YTD: +21.6pts
