Sri Lanka eye ODI series win against NZ

Hasaranga injured, Hemantha called up 

Sri Lanka Captain Charith Asalanka (left) with New Zealand Skipper Mitchell Santner 

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

After a 1-1 draw in the two-match T20 series against New Zealand in Dambulla, Sri Lanka will be aiming to finish strong in the three-match ODI series, which begins today at the same venue. 

Sri Lanka enter the ODI series on the back of a 2-1 series win against the West Indies and a 2-0 victory over India earlier this year. Historically, Sri Lanka and New Zealand have faced each other in 102 ODIs. 

New Zealand have won 52 matches while Sri Lanka have emerged victorious on 41 occasions. Eight matches have ended without a result and one match was tied.

The remaining two matches of the ODI series will be played on November 17 and November 19 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.

Sri Lanka will be without star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga for the ODI series after he sustained a left-hamstring injury while bowling in the second T20I. 

Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that Hasaranga has returned to Colombo and started rehabilitation at the High-Performance Centre. Dushan Hemantha, who played a key role for Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the Emerging T20 Asia Cup has been named as Hasaranga’s replacement in the squad.

Kusal Janith Perera also makes his return to the Sri Lanka ODI Squad after a year-long absence. Perera last played an ODI against New Zealand in Bengaluru on November 9, 2023.

Meanwhile, New Zealand, who leveled the T20I series with a thrilling win on Sunday, will be without key pacer Lockie Ferguson for the ODI series.  Ferguson, who took a hat-trick in the second T20I, was forced to leave the field after experiencing discomfort while bowling his second over. He will not be fit to play in the ODIs and Adam Milne has been called up as his replacement.

Ferguson will return to New Zealand today for scans to assess the extent of his injury and determine the necessary rehabilitation plan.

New Zealand Squad: Mitchell Santner (Captain), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay (w/k), Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi and Will Young.

Sri Lanka Squad: Charith Asalanka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nishan Madushka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Mohamed Shiraz and Dushan Hemantha.