Sri Lanka and New Zealand are gearing up for the second ODI at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Sri Lanka, in red-hot form, claimed victory in the first match of the series, setting an imposing target of 324 with centuries from Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando. New Zealand will be looking to bounce back and level the series as the action moves to Pallekele.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium pitch report
The pitch at Pallekele offers a balanced contest between bat and ball, with an average first-innings score of 248. While it supports big scores—evidenced by Pathum Nissanka’s double century against Afghanistan earlier this year—it also facilitates successful chases due to its consistency under lights. Pacers are likely to find movement in the evening, while spinners can expect assistance in the middle overs.
Winning the toss often proves advantageous, as teams prefer chasing on this surface. Scores around 300 are competitive, but teams batting second have shown they can successfully hunt down high totals if they bat sensibly.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium stats
- Total matches: 45
- Matches won batting first: 17
- Matches won bowling first: 26
- Average 1st innings score: 248
- Average 2nd innings score: 204
- Highest total recorded: 381/3 (Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan)
- Lowest total recorded: 70/10 (Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka)
- Highest score chased: 314/6 (Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan)
- Lowest score defended: 206/9 (West Indies vs Sri Lanka)
Key players to watch
- For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando are in scintillating form, and their performance at the top will be crucial. Pacers like Dilshan Madushanka and Maheesh Theekshana will look to exploit the conditions under lights.
- New Zealand will rely on the experienced Mitchell Santner, along with Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell, to anchor their innings and lead with the ball.
Squads
New Zealand:
Tim Robinson, Will Young, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitch Hay (wk), Josh Clarkson, Mitchell Santner (c), Zakary Foulkes, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Nathan Smith, Dean Foxcroft
Sri Lanka:
Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janith Liyanage, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushan Hemantha, Nishan Madushka, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Mohamed Shiraz