Cricket

Rain dashed New Zealand's hopes of a consolation victory against Sri Lanka, washing out the third and final One Day International (ODI) on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.Sri Lanka secured its fifth ODI series win at home this year after defeating the Black Caps in the first two rain-affected matches. New Zealand made a promising start in the series, reaching 112-1 in 21 overs before rain halted play. Will Young completed his half-century and remained unbeaten on 56, while Henry Nicholls finally found some form with an unbeaten 46.Both batters looked set to post a challenging total, sharing an 88-run stand off 106 balls. Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka timed a spectacular leap to perfection at mid-off, taking a stunning catch over his head to dismiss Tim Robinson for 9 in the fourth over.Rain deprived Sri Lanka of testing its bench strength after the host made five changes. Seam bowling allrounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe debuted but bowled only two overs for 14 runs. New Zealand brought in fast bowlers Zakary Foulkes, who made his ODI debut, and Adam Milne in place of Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy. Milne replaced Lockie Ferguson, who flew home after a calf injury during the preceding drawn Twenty20 series at Dambulla.The series served as preparation for New Zealand for next year's Champions Trophy, which Sri Lanka failed to qualify for by finishing ninth in last year's World Cup in India.

New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, have opted to bat first in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. The Black Caps are looking to avoid a series sweep after losing the first two matches.Sri Lanka, who have already secured the series win, have made five changes to their lineup. Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, and Asitha Fernando have all been dropped, while Nishan Madushka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Mohamed Shiraz, and Chamindu Wickramasinghe have been brought in.New Zealand have also made two changes, with Zakary Foulkes and Adam Milne replacing Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy. Foulkes, who impressed in the T20 leg of the tour, will make his ODI debut.The weather forecast in Pallekele is not ideal, with rain expected at some point. However, conditions are currently hot and humid. The pitch is a new one and has more grass on it than the first two ODIs, which should favor the batters.Sri Lanka:1. Nishan Madushka2. Avishka Fernando3. Nuwanidu Fernando4. Sadeera Samarawickrama5. Charith Asalanka (capt.)6. Janith Liyanage7. Chamindu Wickramasinghe8. Maheesh Theekshana9. Jeffrey Vandersay10. Dilshan Madushanka11. Mohamed ShirazNew Zealand:1. Tim Robinson2. Will Young3. Henry Nicholls4. Mark Chapman5. Glenn Phillips6. Mitchell Hay (wk)7. Michael Bracewell8. Mitchell Santner (capt.)9. Zakary Foulkes10. Ish Sodhi11. Adam Milne

Sri Lanka and New Zealand are set to face off in the third and final ODI of their series in Pallekele. The hosts, led by Charith Asalanka, are aiming for a 3-0 series sweep, while the visitors, captained by Mitchell Santner, are determined to end the series on a high note.Asalanka expressed his team's desire to win the series but also acknowledged the importance of giving opportunities to new players. Five changes have been made to the Sri Lankan playing XI, including the ODI debut of Chamindu Wickramasinghe.Santner, on the other hand, believes the wicket looks better for batting than in the previous game. He emphasized the need for his team to post a strong total and defend it effectively. New Zealand has also made two changes, with Zakary Foulkes and Adam Milne replacing Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy, respectively.Pitch expert Farveez Maharoof noted that the pitch has improved for batting due to reduced cracks. He suggested that chasing might be the preferred option due to the dew factor and potential rain.

Sri Lanka's dominance over New Zealand continued in the third ODI, as they secured a comprehensive victory to complete a historic 3-0 series whitewash. Under the guidance of legendary coach Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka has witnessed a remarkable resurgence in their cricket, and this series triumph stands as a testament to their newfound prowess.The match, played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, saw Sri Lanka bat first and post a formidable total of 283/9. Opener Pathum Nissanka led the charge with a brilliant 72, while Dhananjaya de Silva contributed a valuable 66. New Zealand's bowlers struggled to contain Sri Lanka's aggressive batting, with only Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell managing to take multiple wickets.In response, New Zealand's chase faltered from the outset. They lost early wickets and never managed to recover, eventually being bowled out for just 162. Sri Lanka's bowlers shared the spoils, with Kasun Rajitha, Chamika Karunaratne, and Maheesh Theekshana each claiming three wickets.The victory marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka, as it is the first time they have ever whitewashed New Zealand in an ODI series. It also extends their winning streak to five consecutive ODIs, a testament to their newfound confidence and consistency.For New Zealand, the series defeat will serve as a wake-up call ahead of the upcoming T20I series. They will need to regroup and find a way to counter Sri Lanka's aggressive approach and potent bowling attack.

Kane Williamson, the New Zealand cricket captain, made a triumphant return to competitive cricket after a two-month absence due to a groin injury. Playing for Northern Districts in the Plunket Shield match against Auckland, Williamson scored a solid 60 runs, demonstrating his unwavering determination and skill.Auckland won the toss and elected to field, giving Northern Districts the opportunity to bat first. Williamson entered the crease after the fall of the first wicket and played a patient and composed innings. He faced 122 deliveries, hitting seven boundaries during his nearly three-hour stay at the crease.Williamson formed a crucial partnership with Robert O'Donnell, adding 52 runs for the fourth wicket. He also shared a 36-run stand with Brett Hampton before being dismissed lbw by Jordan Sussex.This match marked Williamson's first appearance in the Plunket Shield in five years, having last played in the competition in October 2019. Despite his extended absence, Williamson expressed his deep connection to Northern Districts, stating, "You always feel like an ND man, whether you are here or not."Williamson's return to competitive cricket is a significant boost for New Zealand ahead of their upcoming Test series against England. He missed the Test tour of India and the white-ball series in Sri Lanka due to his injury, but his inclusion in the squad for the England series is a testament to his importance to the team.The first Test against England will commence on November 28 in Christchurch, followed by matches in Wellington and Hamilton. This series will also mark the final Test appearances for Williamson's long-time teammate, Tim Southee, unless New Zealand qualifies for the World Test Championship final next year.

Sri Lanka's cricket board has announced that star batsman Kusal Mendis and three other key players will be rested for the third and final one-day international (ODI) against New Zealand on Tuesday. The decision comes after Sri Lanka secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.Mendis, who has been in scintillating form, scoring 143 in the rain-shortened first ODI and an unbeaten 74 in the second, will be given a break to recover and prepare for the upcoming Test series in South Africa. Joining him on the sidelines will be Kamindu Mendis, Asitha Fernando, and Pathum Nissanka."The decision was taken by the selectors to give the above players adequate time to recover and prepare for the upcoming Test series in South Africa," Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.In their place, top-order batsmen Nuwanidu Fernando and Lahiru Udara, as well as fast bowler Eshan Malinga, have been added to the squad. Fernando and Udara will be looking to make their ODI debuts, while Malinga, a veteran of 226 ODIs, will be aiming to add to his tally of 338 wickets in the format.Sri Lanka will be aiming to complete a clean sweep of the series in the final ODI at Pallekele. The hosts have been in impressive form, with Mendis leading the way with his batting exploits. However, New Zealand will be determined to avoid a whitewash and will be looking to their experienced players, such as captain Kane Williamson and all-rounder Jimmy Neesham, to step up.The Test series against South Africa is scheduled to begin on March 31, and Sri Lanka will be keen to give their key players a chance to rest and recharge before the challenge of facing the Proteas.

New Zealand's historic Test series sweep in India has not only bolstered their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) campaign but also added a historic feat to their resume. The last time India suffered a whitewash at home was in 2000, and Tom Latham's leadership ensured New Zealand capitalized on challenging conditions.Fresh off their triumph, Latham and former skipper Kane Williamson celebrated their victory in style by attending a Coldplay concert in Auckland. Williamson, who missed the entire India series due to a groin injury, shared a video of the concert on Instagram, captioning it, "What a gig! #coldplay."The series win has not only boosted New Zealand's WTC standing but also added a significant achievement to their cricketing history. Latham's leadership was instrumental in guiding the BlackCaps to their first-ever Test series clean sweep in India.As Williamson gears up for a potential comeback against England in the upcoming home series, all eyes will be on the star batter. The 34-year-old is tantalizingly close to achieving another milestone, needing just five runs to surpass 1,000 Test runs against England. He has already crossed the mark against Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, further solidifying his status as one of cricket's modern greats.Coldplay, the iconic British rock band, is currently on their global "Music of the Spheres" World Tour, attracting fans from all walks of life. Williamson and Latham aren't the only players to embrace the band’s magic. Recently, Australian captain Pat Cummins, bound to lead the team in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting on November 22, was also spotted at a Coldplay concert.

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has opined that India's recent 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand could serve as a wake-up call for the team. India's hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final have been dealt a significant blow by this defeat, their first home Test series loss in 12 years.Hayden believes that the loss could be a "kick up the ae" that India needs. Despite their poor performance in the series, Hayden believes that India's experience in long-format cricket will give them an advantage in their upcoming five-match Test series against Australia.Hayden also commented on the selection of Nathan McSweeney as an opener for Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. McSweeney has impressed in recent matches, and Hayden believes that he has the potential to be a successful Test opener."Time will tell," Hayden said. "From a former opening batsman's point of view, I'd like to just confirm that he's a good choice."Hayden emphasized that the most important qualities for a Test opener are character and the ability to handle the pressure of international cricket. He believes that McSweeney possesses these qualities and has the potential to be a valuable asset to the Australian team.

Sri Lanka, the current series leaders, opted to field first in the second ODI against New Zealand at Pallekele. The decision was influenced by the likelihood of dew in the evening, which could make batting easier later on. New Zealand, on the other hand, were undecided about their preferred choice but were content to bat first on a favorable track.Both teams made minimal changes to their lineups. New Zealand retained their unchanged XI, while Sri Lanka replaced seamer Dilshan Madushanka with spin-bowling allrounder Dunith Wellalage. This move reflects the spin-friendly nature of the Pallekele pitch, with both sides opting for just one frontline seam option.The match commenced on a hot and humid afternoon, with a possibility of rain in the evening. However, the weather is not expected to significantly impact the outcome. Sri Lanka has a strong record at Pallekele, having won seven of their last eight ODIs there. Notably, the last four matches at this venue have been won by the chasing team.Sri Lanka:1. Pathum Nissanka2. Avishka Fernando3. Kusal Mendis (wk)4. Sadeera Samarawickrama5. Charith Asalanka (capt.)6. Kamindu Mendis7. Janith Liyanage8. Dunith Wellalage9. Maheesh Theekshana10. Jeffrey Vandersay11. Asitha FernandoNew Zealand:1. Tim Robinson2. Will Young3. Hentry Nicholls4. Mark Chapman5. Glenn Phillips6. Mitchell Hay (wk)7. Michael Bracewell8. Mitchell Santner (capt.)9. Nathan Smith10. Ish Sodhi11. Jacob Duffy