The players' fitness levels will be tested. This pitch looks good. Spinners will come in handy when the ball lose its hardness. The best time to bat? Against the new ball.
VENUE STATS
1st Innings
217Avg Runs
8Avg Wkts
78.07Avg
SR
2nd Innings
184Avg Runs
7Avg Wkts
77.1Avg
SR
Weather Update
Weather Update
Kandy,Sri Lanka
Updated: 17 Nov 23:00
24.6°CClouds
overcast clouds
56%
Clouds
3%
Rain %
95%
Humidity
4.7 kmph
Wind
Playing XILineups Out
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SL
NZ
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Experts are creating their teams, watch this space
Expert Team 1
C Asalanka
M Bracewell
Expert Team 2
K Mendis
M Santner
Venue Details
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
The players' fitness levels will be tested. This pitch looks good. Spinners will come in handy when the ball lose its hardness. The best time to bat? Against the new ball.
The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
That's all we have for you in terms of coverage of the second One Day International between these two sides. Sri Lanka were challenged throughout, they struggled in those middle-overs of the chase against the New Zealand spinners, but they pulled through thanks to a Kusal Mendis special - a patient and composed knock. The Sri Lanka wicket-keeper battled a dodgy leg, played the situations immaculately, and went on to play an integral role in Sri Lanka effectively sealing a 5th ODI series win in 2024. The Island Nation will get to complete a clean sweep over New Zealand on Tuesday when both sides meet each other at this very venue for the third and final ODI. Join us right here on Sportskeeda for our coverage of that, and in the meantime, keep an eye on our page for a whole lot more! This is Rajarshi Das, signing off on behalf of Pradeep. Good night!
Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka captain: This has been a journey, another series in it. As a team, we are going through a good process. I misread the pitch a bit, thought dew would play a part but it didn't happen. (Promoting Theekshana up the order) I hope so, Theekshana also liked that (his innings). (On batting concerns) It's really tough for batsmen to score runs here. Two-three batsmen need to be set and score in order to set up a win. We should try our bench next game.
Mitchell Santner, New Zealand captain: Always a challenge when you're defending a low score. Kusal played the situation really well. Required rate never got out of fives, that little partnership towards the end took the game away. We probably left a few runs out there, good performance with the ball to squeeze a few wickets. Wicket looked good to start, surprised that it turned so much as the night progressed. We couldn't quite get over the line. 240 might have seen a different story. GP's bowling well, good to see him do well. Credit has to go to Sri Lanka, they bowled really well, especially Asitha at the top, and then there was their mystery spin. That's the nature of the schedule at the moment, we got another big game in about a day's time. Got to get out the series with a win, showed some good stuff today but we can do some things slightly better, like taking it deep with the bat.
Kusal Mendis is the Player of the Match! Here's what he has to say: Injury is fine, not bad. It was hard to bat with the new ball, Pathum started well and got us to decent start. I took my time, wanted to take the game deep. Dunith, Janith and Maheesh supported me well. Vandersay and the spinners bowled really well, in the second half, it spun more with the pitch being wet. It's hard to bat with the cramps, can't use the sweep to full effect, I took the singles to make the most of it.
Maheesh Theekshana: Satisfied with the win, I missed in the T20I series being a hero, but Kusal played a brilliant knock and happy with the series win. At that time, New Zealand needed wickets and I played sensibly, gave the single and also took on the bad deliveries to score the boundaries. Didn't take the chance by playing the ball in the air, calculated. After we bowled, we thought the wicket was very good. After the rain came, it started to turn. The plan was to play till the 30th over, without giving much wickets. It was tough decision for me, I played in the powerplays, we have the bench strength, if someone doesn't do well, there's another play waiting in the wing and do the job for us. We have experience in the side, with the mix of youth. It's great for the team, the World Cup didn't go well in India, great to get back to winning form now.
11:18 P.M. Local Time and IST - Match summary:
Sri Lanka win by 3 wickets with 6 balls to spare (DLS method)
Kusal Mendis 74*(102) | Maheesh Theekshana 3/31 (9.1) Mark Chapman 76 (81) | Michael Bracewell 4/36 (10)
New Zealand began with spin from one end and pace from the other, the latter proving to be ineffective in the powerplay. While Mitchell Santner sparked interest among the visitors by getting the new ball to turn and bounce prodigiously, Jacob Duffy was all over the place with his line and length, and Pathum Nissanka made good use of it. The first Sri Lankan double-centurion in ODI cricket was off the blocks quickly, but once he lost his opening partner Avishka Fernando, things turned in favour of the Blackcaps.
Santner then decided to employ spin from both ends. The plan worked in favour of New Zealand - they managed to contain Nissanka and Kusal Mendis in the powerplay. Nissanka, in trying to break the shackles, picked out Mark Chapman in the deep at mid-wicket off Michael Bracewell off the penultimate delivery of the 10th, and the Blackcaps had reason to believe.
Bracewell struck again five overs later, forcing a rash shot from Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka. Sadeera Samarawickrama tried his best to settle in and stitch a partnership with Mendis, but in trying to cut Phillips, he got a thick outside edge and departed two balls into the 22nd over. Mendis, battling a dodgy left leg, found a reliable ally in Janith Liyanage - the duo milked singles and the occasional brace as Sri Lanka edged closer and closer.
Santner turned to pace after the 31st over - Nathan Smith was given the ball, and he delivered the sixth breakthrough for the Blackcaps by hitting the deck hard and strangling Janith Liyanage down leg. Wellalage walked in and eased the pressure off the hosts in a big way - he smashed Smith for three successive boundaries in the 34th over. The young left-hander was looking good in seeing the game off alongside Mendis, but in trying to take Bracewell on in his penultimate over, Wellalage picked Ish Sodhi out at mid-on.
Having made their way into the Sri Lankan tail, New Zealand had all the reason to believe they were in the driver's seat. However, Maheesh Theekshana had other plans. The Sri Lanka number 9 saw off a few, and didn't hesitate from playing his shots. An upper-cut for six off Jacob Duffy from him went a long way in easing the nerves in the hosts' camp.
Theekshana and Mendis then proceeded to take their time, the duo took it deep, but Sri Lanka were home and dry with a bit of time to spare. Presentations to follow...
46
overs
210/7score
1
1
1
0
0
2
runs
Maheesh Theekshana*
27(44)
Kusal Mendis
74(102)
Nathan Smith
1/21
45.6 Nathan Smith to Maheesh Theekshana, THAT IS THAT! SRI LANKA SEAL THE SERIES, 2-0! Theekshana played a handy knock here as he gives good company to Mendis to seal the series and win this game quite comfortably in the end. Short into the batter, Theekshana mistimes the pull past backward square-leg and they hare back for a brace.
45.5 Nathan Smith to Maheesh Theekshana, OH! This one's a sharp bumper, angled in on the leg-stump. Theekshana crouches to let it go and sees the umpire who thinks it was fine.
45.4 Nathan Smith to Maheesh Theekshana, slower bumper from Smith, angled in on the middle and leg line. Theekshana ducks under it.