Sri Lanka Playing 11 vs New Zealand - 1st ODI, New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2024

With the T20I series done and dusted, Sri Lanka will have their eyes set on the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. The first game of the three-match SL vs NZ ODI series will be played on Wednesday (November 13) in Dambulla.

The T20I series ended at 1-1. After the hosts beat New Zealand by 4 wickets in the first game, the tourists won the second game by 5 runs to draw level. As the hosts looks to bounce back, we are taking a look at the Sri Lanka Playing 11 ahead of the first game.

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Sri Lanka Playing 11 vs New Zealand - 1st ODI, New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2024

Openers: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando

Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando are likely to open the innings in the upcoming first SL vs NZ ODI. The onus will be on them to give their team a good start with the bat.

Nissanka is coming into this game on the back of a fine half-century in the second T20I against New Zealand. Even though his team ended up losing the low-scoring encounter, Nissanka played a fine knock of 52 runs.

Fernando, on the other hand, will be playing for the first time since the ODI series against West Indies last month. The opener did not have the best of outings in that series as he registered scores of 5, 9, and 34. He will be eyeing a big score against the Black Caps.

Middle-order batsmen and allrounders: Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka (C), Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janith Liyanage

Kusal Mendis will be desperate to do well with the bat in the ODIs after flopping in both the T20Is against New Zealand. He scored 0 and 2 in the two-match series.

Captain Charith Asalanka will be looking to lead his team from the front in the first ODI. He scored a match-winning 35 in the first T20I against the Black Caps before being out for a duck in the second game.

Kamindu Mendis also did not enjoy a very good series with the bat against New Zealand in T20Is, registering scores of 23 and 1. Sadeera Samarawickrama will be the other batting option in the middle-order while Janith Liyanage will be an all-rounder option for the home side.

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Bowlers: Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando

With conditions favorable for spinners, Sri Lanka is likely to play one frontline pacer and three spinners against New Zealand in the SL vs NZ 1st ODI. Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, and Jeffrey Vandersay will be the three spinners while Asitha Fernando will be the pacer.