New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka, 4th ODI: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview
Sri Lanka secured their first win of what has so far been a disappointing tour of New Zealand, after claiming an eight-wicket victory in the third encounter of this five-match ODI series.
With the Black Caps claiming the first two games, both sides can still claim an outright series victory, making this fourth encounter crucial.
Let's take a look at how the two sides are shaping up ahead of this contest.
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Date: Saturday, January 2, 2016
Time: 10:30 a.m. local (23:30 GMT)
Venue: Saxton Oval, Nelson, New Zealand
Live Stream and TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), Sky Sport (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa), NowTV (UK, subscription required), Willow TV (U.S., subscription required)
Weather: According to the Accuweather.com, a cool day is in store for the players with showers a possibility throughout the day.
Overview
Sri Lanka's victory on New Year's Eve was the first bright spot of a tour that has seen them lose two Tests and the first couple of ODIs comprehensively.
True, they haven't been helped by Kusal Perera's absence—the wicketkeeper-batsman was sent home after testing positive for a banned substance prior to the tour—and injuries to Dhammika Prasad and Lasith Malinga.
However, their performance in the first of two back-to-back fixtures in Nelson was by far their most cohesive effort over the last few weeks.
Three batsmen, Tillakaratne Dilshan, MD Gunathilaka and HDRL Thirimanne, all made fluent half-centuries. And the bowlers, who took some frightful tap in Christchurch, produced vastly improved displays.
They could still do with skipper Angelo Mathews, who has score just 17 runs so far, finding his range. Experienced veterans like Dinesh Chandimal (22 runs) and Nuwan Kulasekara (zero wickets from 10 overs) would expect to offer more.
But the progression of youngsters like Danushka Gunathilaka at the top of the order and the raw, but talented, paceman Dushmantha Chameera suggests there could be light at the end of the tunnel.
Conversely, the Black Caps have been, for the most part, enjoying the festive generosity of their visitors by filling their boots emphatically.
Despite plenty of their own first XI missing, including rested strike bowler Trent Boult who should return here, they won the first two games with 29 overs and 41.4 overs to spare.
Martin Guptill, in particular, has been electric with the bat (see below), while Mitchell McClenaghan and Matt Henry (who has since been released from the squad) have exploited the bowler-friendly surfaces to claim six and eight wickets respectively.
If soon-to-retire skipper Brendon McCullum doesn't recover from the back injury that kept him out of the third ODI, captain-in-waiting Kane Williamson will again take the reins.
ODI form (latest left to right)
New Zealand: LWWLWL
Sri Lanka: WLLWWW
Squads
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (captain), Doug Bracewell, Martin Guptill, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, George Worker, Tim Southee, Trent Boult
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (captain), Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Dinesh Chandimal, Milinda Siriwardana, Dhanushka Gunatillake, Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Chamara Kapugedera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Thisara Perera
Key Players
New Zealand
Often overshadowed by the likes of McCullum and Kane Williamson, a stunning innings of 93 not out from just 30 balls at Christchurch secured Martin Guptill plenty of headlines recently. And with two tons and four half-centuries in his last 11 innings across all formats, the in-form opener will be seeking to extend his purple patch against Sri Lanka's inexperienced bowlers.
Sri Lanka
Raw paceman Chameera has been a much-needed, if expensive, bright spot for the Sri Lankans in New Zealand. The 23-year-old, who terrified the Kiwis in the Hamilton Test to return match figures of nine for 105, has had mixed results in the ODIs. Expensive in the two Christchurch ODIs but dangerous in Nelson where he picked up two scalps.
Which Chameera turns up at Nelson could be crucial for the tourists.
Who will win?
While the outcome of limited-overs games can rest on fine margins, despite the result in the first Nelson clash, it is hard to see the fragile-looking Sri Lankan side pulling another one out of the bag.
The Kiwis, with their tails up, plenty of players in form, some big guns back in the side and home conditions in their favour, seem likely to clinch the series here.
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