New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2nd One-Day International
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
A marker was laid down by New Zealand at the weekend after thrashing Sri Lanka by nine wickets and now they try and back that up by doubling their series lead.
Date/Time: Tuesday January 7th 2025: USA PT – 5:00pm / USA ET – 8:00pm / Wednesday January 8th 2025: UK – 1:00am
Venue: Seddon Park, Hamilton, New Zealand
Weather: Dry and warm conditions as temperatures hang around the mid-twenties with constant sunny intervals.
How To Watch On TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Willow TV
How To Watch Online: UK – discovery+ / US – Willow TV
New Zealand Betting Analysis
Sri Lanka’s bowlers had no answer to the quality of New Zealand’s top three in the first ODI, the trio putting them to the sword in Wellington by chasing down 179 for the loss of just one wicket. Will Young has been a standout player for the Black Caps recently in whatever format he has represented his country in and the opener’s 90 not out led the way. Rachin Ravindra added 45 in a first wicket stand of 93 with Young, before Mark Chapman came in to help see New Zealand home.
It's Young who commands the spotlight though from a betting perspective. His reliability hasn’t been in question across this New Zealand international home season and his confidence must be sky high right now. Therefore, it’s well worth exploring the prospect of a stake on Young to record over 31.5 match runs, with an additional, smaller move perhaps on him to finish as New Zealand’s top scorer across their batting innings.
Sri Lanka Betting Analysis
Sri Lanka were outclassed in all departments really across the first game of this series and face a mountain to climb already if they are to turn things around. Bowled out for just 178 in 43.4 overs tells the story with only four players registering double figures and only one batter reaching a half-century.
That player was Avishka Fernando, who played well for 56 from 63 balls after having been afforded precious little support throughout much of his innings from the other Sri Lankan batters. He was able to weather the storm of New Zealand’s opening bowlers and his innings lasted 26.4 overs. A play on Fernando to accumulate another 20+ runs here via the ‘Batter Milestones’ market warrants consideration.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Expert Prediction
It’s worrying from Sri Lanka’s point of view how easy New Zealand made it look in the first ODI, even if they were chasing down a modest target. The batters looked very comfortable against the visiting bowlers and with strength-in-depth down the order, it’s hard to see Sri Lanka being able to outscore them at any point, even if they are the side chasing on this occasion. New Zealand are expected to win again here and it would be somewhat of a surprise if they didn’t.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Tip: New Zealand to win
