Sri Lanka Playing 11 vs New Zealand - 1st ODI, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand 2024-25

Sri Lanka will be looking to bounce back when they take on New Zealand in the first ODI of the three-match series. The game is scheduled to be played on Sunday (January 5) at the Basin Reserve, Wellington.

The Islanders lost the recently-concluded T20I series against the Black Caps. However, they managed to end the series on a winning note and will be looking to make the most of the momentum. In the third T20I, Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 7 runs.

Batting first, the Charith Asalanka-led side scored 218/5 in the allotted 20 overs. Kusal Perera starred with the bat, scoring 101 runs off 46 balls while Asalanka impressed with the bat as well, scoring 46 off 24 balls.

The Sri Lankan bowlers then held their nerves to power their team to a hard-fought win. New Zealand came up with a fighting effort but eventually fell short by 7 runs, finishing on 211/7.

With both the teams now gearing up for the first ODI, we are taking a look at Sri Lanka Playing 11 for the first NZ vs SL ODI.

Sri Lanka Playing 11 vs New Zealand - 1st ODI, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand 2024-25:

Openers: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk)

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis are expected to be the openers in the Sri Lanka Playing 11 for the first ODI against New Zealand. The onus will be on the openers to give their team a good start with the bat.

Nissanka looked in brilliant touch in the recently-concluded T20I series. In the first game, he scored 90 runs although it eventually went in vain as Sri Lanka lost the game by 7 runs. He followed it up with knocks of 37 and 14.

On the other hand, Mendis also got the start in all three outings but could not score big. In the first game, he scored 46 runs while also sharing a century-plus stand with Nissanka. In the next two games, the right-handed batsman scored 10 and 22.

Middle-order batsmen and allrounders: Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c) Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga

Even though Avishka Fernando could not impress in the T20I series, he is expected to retain his spot in the Sri Lanka Playing 11. Fernando played two of the three T20Is against New Zealand and registered scores of 5 and 17.

Sadeera Samarawickrama is set to return to the Sri Lanka Playing 11 after missing the T20I series. He failed to impress during the home ODI series against New Zealand a couple of months ago and will be eyeing a better show in the upcoming series.

Kamindu Mendis was dropped from the Sri Lanka Playing 11 for the third T20I but he is expected to return to the team for the first ODI. He was dropped after he scored 0 and 7 in the first two games.

Captain Charith Asalanka led from the front in the third T20I and will be eyeing a similar performance in the first ODI. After scoring 46 runs off 24 balls, Asalanka picked up 3 wickets to power his team to a much-needed win.

Janith Liyanage and Wanindu Hasaranga are expected to be the two all-rounders in the Sri Lanka Playing 11. Liyanage, who was not a part of the Sri Lankan team for the T20Is, will be looking to make an impact while Hasaranga played in all three games and picked up 6 wickets.

Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara

Sri Lanka are expected to field three frontline bowlers in the team. Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara are expected to be the two fast bowlers while Maheesh Theekshana will be the frontline spinner.