The second One Day International (ODI) match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand took place on September 4, 2019, at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Hambantota. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first.
TUESDAY, 28 MARCH 2023
TIME: 8:00 PM ET
TIME: 1:00 AM GMT
The New Zealand batsmen got off to a good start, with their openers putting on a partnership of 49 runs before Martin Guptill was dismissed for 13 runs. However, the Sri Lankan bowlers then began to take control of the match, picking up wickets at regular intervals to prevent the New Zealand batsmen from building any momentum.
Tom Latham and Jimmy Neesham tried to revive the New Zealand innings with a partnership of 79 runs, but Latham was dismissed for 45 runs, which slowed down the New Zealand innings once again. Neesham continued to score runs, however, and ended up with a score of 64 runs before being dismissed by Isuru Udana.
New Zealand eventually finished their innings on 161-9, which was a below-par score considering the conditions and the strength of their batting line-up. The Sri Lankan bowlers were excellent, with Nuwan Pradeep and Isuru Udana picking up three wickets each. Lasith Malinga also picked up two wickets, and he was instrumental in preventing New Zealand from building any big partnerships.
In response, Sri Lanka got off to a steady start, with their openers putting on a partnership of 46 runs before Danushka Gunathilaka was dismissed for 21 runs. However, Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando then put on a brilliant partnership of 104 runs, which put Sri Lanka in a commanding position in the match.
Mendis was the standout performer for Sri Lanka, as he scored a brilliant century to lead his team to victory. He was well-supported by Fernando, who scored 50 runs before being dismissed by James Neesham. Sri Lanka eventually won the match by seven wickets with 29 balls to spare.
The match was significant for several reasons. Firstly, it highlighted the importance of disciplined and accurate bowling in ODI cricket. The Sri Lankan bowlers were excellent, with Nuwan Pradeep and Isuru Udana picking up three wickets each. They were able to hit the right areas consistently, which prevented the New Zealand batsmen from scoring runs freely.
Secondly, the match highlighted the importance of partnerships in ODI cricket. New Zealand struggled to build any big partnerships throughout their innings, which prevented them from setting a bigger target. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, were able to build a brilliant partnership between Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando, which helped them to chase down the target with ease.
Lastly, the match highlighted the importance of adapting to different conditions in ODI cricket. New Zealand’s batsmen struggled to adapt to the conditions in Hambantota, which were different from those in the first ODI in Colombo. Sri Lanka’s batsmen, on the other hand, were able to adapt to the conditions and score runs freely.
In conclusion, the second ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was an exciting affair, with both teams putting in some strong performances. However, Sri Lanka were able to come out on top, thanks to their disciplined bowling and strong partnerships with the bat. New Zealand will need to improve in these areas if they are to win the remaining match of the series.