NZ vs SL Prediction, 1st ODI, Match Winner, Team, Playing XI and Pitch Report

New Zealand will look to avenge their ODI series loss in Sri Lanka two months ago when they take on the Island nation in the first ODI game of the home series in Wellington on Monday morning. 

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After a thrilling end to a T20I series, where the hosts registered a 2-1 win, both teams will look for a winning start to the three-match ODI series to kick off their early preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on a positive note. 

Sri Lanka recorded an impressive 2-0 win in their last ODI assignment against the Kiwis at home but lost the series by the same margin during their previous tour of New Zealand in 2023.

NZ vs SL, 1st ODI Match Details

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Match: 1st ODI of Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand 2024-25

Time & Date: 3:30 AM IST, Sunday, January 5

Venue: Basin Reserve, Wellington 

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NZ vs SL, 1st ODI Pitch Report

The surface at Basin Reserve offers a good help to the seam bowlers across formats. Both teams are expected to rely on their pace attack in Wellington but can also target big score if they avoid collapse in powerplay overs. 

The average first innings score here is 203 with teams batting first winning 28 of 59 ODI games. However, New Zealand were able to post a big total of 318 while batting first in the last ODI game played at Basin Reserve in March 2021. 

NZ vs SL, 1st ODI Probable XIs

New Zealand XI: Tom Latham (wk), Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Matt Henry, Will O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Nuwanidu Fernando, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Mohamed Shiraz

NZ vs SL, 1st ODI Match Winner Prediction

Match Winner: New Zealand

Sri Lanka failed to win a single ODI game when they last travelled to New Zealand for a bilateral series in 2023. The Black Caps also hold a slightly better head-to-head record against Sri Lanka with 52 wins in 105 ODI meetings.

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