The New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2024 ODI series continues with an exciting clash in Hamilton on January 8, 2024. New Zealand have sealed the T20I series 2-1 and lead by 1-0 in the ODI, following a thumping 9-wicket win in the first match. Now behind in the series, Sri Lanka hopes to recover and stay in the hunt.
Team Previews
New Zealand Preview
New Zealand is also formidable at home, winning 12 of the last 15 ODIs played there. They opened their ODI campaign at home against Sri Lanka and bowled first there, thrashing Sri Lanka to 178. Matt Henry was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4/19. The chase was simple, as Will Young (90 runs) and Mark Chapman headed New Zealand to triumph.

Key Players:
Will Young: The opener is in excellent form, averaging 88 in his last seven matches.
Rachin Ravindra: A brilliant young all-rounder who can win you a game.
Mark Chapman: A dynamic batsman who can quickly accelerate the innings.
Sri Lanka Preview
Sri Lanka has lost the first ODI by nine wickets and needs to regroup. In the first ODI, they collapsed for 178, with Avishka Fernando scoring 56. Bowlers failed as Chamindu Wickramasinghe was the only wicket-taker. Sri Lanka’s batting order would need to improve. Kusal Mendis’ and Avishka Fernando’s contributions will enhance their chances.

Key Players:
Avishka Fernando: He was Sri Lanka’s highest scorer in the first ODI and will be key to the team.
Kusal Mendis: Mendis has been consistent with the bat and has an average of 56.29 in his last nine matches.
Wanindu Hasaranga: One of the players who can assist bat and ball.
Weather and Pitch Conditions
Weather Forecast
Expect breezy, mostly cloudy weather in Hamilton. There is no chance of rain, making it ideal conditions for an uninterrupted match. Daily temperature will be within the limits of 25°C- 12°C.
Pitch Analysis
This venue assists the bowlers early on in the innings. It is also almost impossible to defend a total here; Teams bowling first have won 23 matches out of the 36 ODIs played here. The conditions should help seam bowlers, but it would be hard work for the batters.
Toss Prediction
If you win the toss, your best bet is to bowl first; the pitch and conditions are conducive to the side defending a score.
Match Prediction
All would hinge on whether New Zealand can hit their stride again after their resounding victory in the first ODI. Home advantage and decent performances from Will Young and Matt Henry give them the edge. It will take some serious effort from Sri Lanka to return to this series. Both of them need to put up a fight to do that. Still, considering how much of a better performance New Zealand put up in the opening match in this series, they will be the favourites to pick up the second to seal the series.
Final Prediction: New Zealand is favored to win this match based on their overall team performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. NZ vs SL Match, Who are the key players?
The new Zeland side must look out for Will Young, Mark Chapman, Rachin Ravindra and the Sri Lanks Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis and Wanindu Hasaranga.
Q2. What is the Seddon Park, Hamilton pitch report?
Generally, Seddon Park assists the bowlers, especially seamers, in the early overs. Traditionally, this pitch has favoured those bowling first, with 36 matches, 23 of which were won by the Team that lad bowled first.
Q3. Who will win the toss, and what will be their choice?
Considering the pitch conditions, the Team that wins the toss would probably want to bowl first because chasing is often simple on this ground.
Q4. What are the recent results between New Zealand VS Sri Lanka?
New Zealand have recently enjoyed a better head-to-head record in ODIs, with the Kiwis winning 4 of the last seven games played between the two nations in ODIs. The visitors need a solid performance to get back into the series, as the home side is impressive at their ground.
Q5. What is New Zealand’s home ODI record?
New Zealand have an excellent ODI record at home having won 12 of their last 15 ODIs. New Zealand isn’t an easy place to play, and when on home soil, they’re one of the toughest opponents you can come up against.
Q6. How has Will Young performed recently in ODIs?
Will Young has been in great touch with an average of 88 in his last 7 games. He has scored 440 runs at an SR of almost 95, making him one of the more consistent performers from New Zealand in ODIs of late.
Q7. Which Sri Lankan players need to deliver in the second ODI?
Kusal Mendis will need to carry a large burden for runs at the top, and Wanindu Hasaranga will play a key role with bat and ball. Avishka Fernando has looked good with bat, along with the lower order that consists of players such as Charith Asalanka and Chamindu Wickramasinghe, but they will need more and Sri Lanka were far too reliant on their top order in this match.
Q8. How big a factor is the toss in this match?
Toss will be very important in this match. If the team batting second is well regarded, the toss-equivalent to a pitch might be a very favourable for them, the side winning the toss choes to bowl. Chasing has been relatively easy at Seddon Park, so the toss will play a key role in deciding the game.
Conclusion
With the momentum on New Zealand’s side heading into the second ODI, chances are they will continue to dominate. Sri Lanka has to make amends to avoid a series of defeats.