New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

New Zealand have a 2-0 series lead in their five-match series against Sri Lanka and will be looking to wrap up the series on New Year’s Eve.

Date: Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015

Time: 11 a.m. local (10 p.m. GMT Wednesday, 5 p.m. ET Wednesday)

Venue: Saxton Oval, Nelson

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 AccuWeather.com, there might be a few clouds around, but it will be a perfectly pleasant 24 degrees Celsius. 

Overview

The Black Caps have been dominant in their series against Sri Lanka. After a good win in the first one-day international, they completed an even more impressive victory—winning by 10 wickets—in the second ODI. Now they have the chance to wrap things up before the series is even done.

Sri Lanka interim coach Jerome Jayaratne referred to that loss as "humiliating," per ESPNCricinfo, and things might get even worse.

New Zealand have managed these big wins without lead bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult, and the former could return for the New Year's Eve clash. Kane Williamson has also been absent but is expected to return, which will spell serious trouble for Sri Lanka.

Williamson could take over the captaincy from Brendon McCullum, who has been struggling with a back injury, which is understood to have been aggravated by playing in the previous match. If there was any positive for Sri Lanka, the absence of the 34-year-old might be it.

Sri Lanka will have to make do with the players they have in their squad, and it will be up to skipper Angelo Mathews to motivate them to try and get something positive from this series.

Key players

New Zealand

If Williamson does return, he will have a significant role to play. The 25-year-old has been one of the most prolific players of 2015, and on a smaller ground like the Saxton Oval, he has the perfect opportunity to add to his illustrious record. 

Sri Lanka

Nuwan Kulasekara has struggled to find his swing, but a few clouds around might help. With Lasith Malinga out of action, the 33-year-old needs to step it up and make inroads early on if Sri Lanka are to have any hope of winning.

Squads

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (captain), Doug Bracewell, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, George Worker

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

All information obtained firsthand, unless otherwise stated