New Zealand v Sri Lanka: Third ODI preview

New Zealand v Sri Lanka: Third ODI preview

New Zealand and Sri Lanka are ready to face off in the third one-day international of the three-match series in Nelson on Tuesday.

The home side have already clinched the series after winning first two matches – first by 45 and second by 21 runs respectively.

Therefore, the Black Caps will enter in the contest full of confidence and will be hoping to complete series sweep.

In the batting department, the team management will be depending on in-form openers Martin Guptill, Collin Munro and veteran duo of captain Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor to score bulk of runs, whereas in the bowling department, the onus will be on the pace attack to do most of the damage.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka will be bitterly disappointed after failing to cross over the line in last two matches despite putting a wonderful show with the bat while chasing a huge target.
In the batting department, the team management will be relying on in-form Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka to score bulk of the runs, whereas in the bowling department, the onus will be on the likes of Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Pradeep to provide timely breakthroughs.

Saxton Oval is the venue which will be hosting the match. This will be the 10th fixture which will take place at the venue and the fourth between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Highest team score at the venue of 322-4 was registered by Bangladesh in the match against Scotland.

Key players:

New Zealand and Sri Lanka are ready to face off in the third one-day international of the three-match series in Nelson on Tuesday.

The home side have already clinched the series after winning first two matches – first by 45 and second by 21 runs respectively.

Therefore, the Black Caps will enter in the contest full of confidence and will be hoping to complete series sweep.

In the batting department, the team management will be depending on in-form openers Martin Guptill, Collin Munro and veteran duo of captain Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor to score bulk of runs, whereas in the bowling department, the onus will be on the pace attack to do most of the damage.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka will be bitterly disappointed after failing to cross over the line in last two matches despite putting a wonderful show with the bat while chasing a huge target.
In the batting department, the team management will be relying on in-form Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka to score bulk of the runs, whereas in the bowling department, the onus will be on the likes of Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Pradeep to provide timely breakthroughs.

Saxton Oval is the venue which will be hosting the match. This will be the 10th fixture which will take place at the venue and the fourth between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Highest team score at the venue of 322-4 was registered by Bangladesh in the match against Scotland.

Key players:

Thisara Perara – 9 Cr
First in the list of key players features Sri Lanka's Thisara Perera. The veteran all-rounder is having a horrible time with the ball in hand in the series, but showed what he is capable of with the bat with a breathtaking 140 in the second match, where he nearly took his team over the line. Therefore, Perera, who is valued at 9 Cr, might prove to be a good purchase for your team, especially considering he will be playing without any added pressure in the match on Tuesday.

Kane Williamson – 11 Cr
Second in the list of key players features New Zealand's Kane Williamson. The Black Caps' captain is having an average series according to his own standards as he has only managed to score 77 runs in two innings, which means that one big innings is due from him and the match on Tuesday might prove to be an ideal occasion for him to deliver. Therefore, Williamson, who is valued at 11 Cr, is the player to have in your team. Till now, the 28-year-old has represented his national team in 131 ODIs, where he has scored 5,261 runs at an average of 46.14, which included 11 centuries and 34 fifties. Williamson is also the first New Zealand player to score a century in a 50-over contest while playing at the venue Saxton Oval, as he smashed 103 while playing against Sri Lanka in January 2015.

Lasith Malinga – 9 Cr
Last in the list of key players features Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga. The veteran pacer is by far the visitor's best bowler in the series and already has four wickets to his name in just two matches. On Tuesday, Malinga might be playing his last 50-over match on the New Zealand soil and he will be eager to put another match-winning performance for his team. Therefore, Malinga, who is valued at 9 Cr, might prove to be a good purchase for your team.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Azeem Siddiqui
Passionate sports follower in the field of sports journalism for more than five years. Loves writing about cricket, football, and tennis.
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