NZ vs SL Full Scorecard, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2023 Updates

2nd ODI • Hagley Oval • Christchurch

New Zealand

Sri Lanka

Match Abandoned Due To Rain

Info

Fantasy

Live

Scorecard

Match has not started yet

Match Info

Date & Time

28 Mar, 06:30 AM IST

Venue

Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Match

2nd ODI,

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2023

Schedule

Stats

Toss

Toss yet to take Place

Commentary

Not the kind of conclusion we would have liked, but as it stands, the match has been abandoned without even the toss. New Zealand are still 1-up in the series. Sri Lanka have to win the next ODI on Friday at all costs to give themselves a chance of qualifying automatically for the World Cup. But that too looks more like a distant possibility now with them being unable to win this series. So, we will see you again for the 3rd and final match at Seddon Park, Hamilton. For now, this is the pair of Raghav and Bidipto, saying good bye. Keep following Sportskeeda!

Rain wins🌧️ The 2nd @ANZAotearoa ODI v @OfficialSLC has been abandoned without a ball bowled. We move to Hamilton for the 3rd ANZ ODI on Friday 31 @seddonpark #NZvSL pic.twitter.com/0hHqUvJ7pj
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 28, 2023

9:00 IST, 16:30 Local Time: What a shame! The match has been officially called off now. It hasn't stopped raining since the morning and the umpires decided that it wasn't worth waiting anymore.

8:54 IST, 16:24 Local Time: The rain hasn't stopped yet but the umpires have scheduled an inspection right now to decide whether they are going to wait for another couple of hours or not.

8:23 IST, 15:53 Local Time: According to the forecast, it is expected to rain for another couple of hours at least. The possibility of getting a game will be down to the drainage system.

7:45 IST, 15:15 Local Time: We cannot give you any good news still! It is raining a lot in Christchurch right now. The cut-off time for a 20-over match is 11:32 AM IST. The ground staff are working tirelessly to get rid of those puddles in the outfield but first things first - the rain has to stop.

7:15 IST, 14:45 Local Time: Not a lot has changed at the Hagley Oval, as we continue to wait for better news. Keeping our fingers crossed, we hope for some play once the rain stops and the ground is ready for cricketing action. Do stay with us.

6:45 IST, 14:15 Local Time: Live pictures show quite a few puddles right around the ground as the rain continues to fall. The ground staff are trying their best to make sure that things don't get worse. According to the commentators at the premises, another couple of hours' wait may well be the case. Anyway, we will keep you updated with all that happens. Please stay with us.

Unfortunately, it is raining in Christchurch at the moment and the toss has been delayed. Please stay with us, we will keep you posted.

The covers are on here at Hagley Oval in Christchurch ahead of @ANZAotearoa ODI 2. Updates to come #NZvSL 📷 = @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/kFX1AemOYq
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) March 27, 2023

Hello and welcome to Sportkeeda's live coverage of the second ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka. After suffering a huge defeat in the series opener, Sri Lanka will be hunting for their first win of the tour while New Zealand will try and seal the series today. It's a really important tie for Sri Lanka as they haven't qualified for the world cup yet and winning here will earn them some crucial World Cup Super League points. There's plenty at stake here, so sit back and enjoy! This is Raghav Tikmany and I will soon be joined by Bidipto to take you through the first innings of the game.

When Sri Lanka restricted New Zealand to 274 and bowled them out in the first ODI in Auckland, they would have been chomping at the prospect of taking the early lead in the series and register crucial World Cup Super League points. Given how batting-friendly Eden Park has proven to be over time, they were the clear favorites heading into the chase.

However, it was all but a fatal nightmare for the visitors, with Henry Shipley getting the ball to hoop around as he blew them away with a destructive five-wicket haul. Not only did the Blackcaps register a humongous win, but they did so in a manner that is bound to have sapped the Sri Lankans of some confidence.

Quite clearly, with the two teams now heading into the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, Sri Lanka find themselves on the back foot and enter last-chance salon, not just as far as the series is concerned but also with regards to avoiding having to take the route of the Qualifiers for the ODI World Cup. The equation is simple now for Sri Lanka - they simply have to win the remaining two games which coincide to form their final two matches in this Super League. A loss in even one of them and they cannot finish in the top eight, meaning that they have to go through the Qualifiers.

Dasun Shanaka and Co. do not need more motivation than this to put in a far better display on Tuesday. Yet, with the odds massively stacked up against them, they have a task and a half on hand. It's very clear that their batters have to cope much better with the moving ball and it ought to start with Pathum Nissanka and Nuwanidu Fernando up top. While the latter was run out, the former was stuck on the crease with a brute of a Shipley inswinger knocking the castle over. Once this was followed by Kusal Mendis enduring a miserable 16-ball stay without opening his account, it all went downhill for the Lankans.

After the controversy surrounding Dhananjaya de Silva's apparent refusal to bat lower down the order which preluded the series, his absence from the first ODI would have only added fuel to those rumors. He has proven to be a reliable collapse arrestor in Test cricket and has the technical wherewithal to produce much the same in this format, meaning that Sri Lanka have to revisit his non-selection.

Things weren't hunky dory for New Zealand either with the bat, as they squandered a solid start and lost their way in the form of two collapses. Finn Allen struck a brisk half-century with Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra chipping in with useful 40-plus scores. Debutant Chad Bowes will look to make his chance count and with the runs surprisingly drying up in the format this year for skipper Tom Latham, he'd want to get a score of his own.

With the ball, the Blackcaps didn't break a sweat, swatting the Lankan challenge aside inside 20 overs. While Shipley was the wrecker-in-chief, he found due support from Matt Henry, who kept an end extremely tight before Blair Tickner also cashed in on the openings provided by Shipley. Mitchell added the finishing touches with the spinners not even having to bowl.

Of course, Sri Lanka would feel chuffed about how they went about their own work with the ball, even if Wanindu Hasaranga endured a tough day. The lion-hearted Chamika Karunaratne proved his usefulness to the visitors in limited-overs cricket with a four-for, while Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha were at their efficient best. Dilshan Madushanka may have shipped too many runs, but he remains a very exciting player in this format.

All things considered, this remains New Zealand's game to lose even in the absence of their IPL-bound A-listers. Yet, there is so much riding on it for Sri Lanka that they simply cannot afford another mishap. Whether this must-win situation brings about the best in them or sees them succumb to the pressure remains to be seen. But it is as tough a challenge as any they have encountered in recent times and they need to show to the age-old Lankan fighting spirit to roar back and draw level.

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