High flights New Zealand will face Sri Lanka in the second ODI of the three-match series between NZ and SL on Wednesday (January 8, 2025). The crucial match will be played at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
The upcoming NZ vs SL match could decide the fate of the ongoing series. New Zealand leads the series after winning the first game and can take an unassailable 2-0 lead if they win the next game. On the other hand, Sri Lanka will have to win the game at any cost to keep the NZ vs SL series alive.
New Zealand won the first game in Wellington by 9 wickets and completely outclassed Sri Lanka. Batting first, the visitors were bowled out for just 178 runs. Opener Avishka Fernando was Sri Lanka’s top scorer, scoring 56 runs. For New Zealand, Matt Henry starred in the ball, taking 4 wickets for 19 runs.
In response, the Black Caps took advantage of their opener Will Young’s unbeaten 90-run knock to reduce the total losing just one wicket. They crossed the finish line in the 27th minute. As both teams prepare for the crucial second game, we take a look at the weather and field report.
NZ vs SL Weather Report & Pitch Report from Seddon Park, Hamilton – 2nd ODI, Sri Lanka Tour of New Zealand 2024-25:
New Zealand Weather Report vs Hamilton SL:
The second ODI NZ vs SL will take place in Hamilton and will be a day and night game. Teams are likely to be welcomed by overcast conditions in Hamilton, although there are no predictions that the racing will be intense. Drizzle might disrupt the game for a while, but it’s unlikely to ruin the party.
The temperature will be in the 20s for the first half of the game. After sunset, the temperature is expected to range between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius.
New Zealand vs SL Launch Report:
Here are the stats for Seddon Park, Hamilton:
| First ODI match | 02/15/1981 |
| Last ODI match | 03/31/2023 |
| Games played | 39 |
| Matches won by the home team | 24 (61.54%) |
| Matches won by the touring team | 7 (17.95%) |
| Matches won by the neutral side | 5 (12.82%) |
| Matches won by batting first | 13 (33.33%) |
| Games won batting second | 23 (58.97%) |
| Matches won Winning pitch | 18 (46.15%) |
| Matches Won Losing Pitching | 18 (46.15%) |
| Drawn matches | 0 (0.00%) |
| Matches without result | 3 (7.69%) |
| Highest team entries | 363/4 (West Indies) |
| Lower Team Entries | 92 (India) |
| Highest race pursuit achieved | 350/9 (New Zealand) |
| Average runs per wicket | 33.97 |
| Average runs per over | 5.3 |
| Average score batting first | 233 |
The next match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka will be played at Seddon Park. The conditions at Seddon Park will also favor the bowlers more and it would not be surprising if the next match also turns out to be a low scoring contest.
The average first innings total at the venue is 233 runs and anything over 250 will be a challenging total. Teams that batted second won 23 games, compared to 13 wins for teams that batted first. So both New Zealand and Sri Lanka will keep that in mind.
Incidentally, the last ODI match at this venue was also played between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in 2023. It was a low scoring game in which New Zealand recorded a 6-wicket win. The Black Caps had bowled out Sri Lanka for just 157 runs before chasing the total in 33 overs.
Conclusion:
The second ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka promises to be an exciting affair. With the series on the line, both teams will look to win the next game.