By BV Swagath
The third ODI between hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand will be played this afternoon at Pallekele. The hosts are 1-0 up in the 5-match series having won the Second ODI at this same venue by the D/L Method on Sunday. Rain has been dominating this New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka with all the three international matches including the T20I getting affected. It was only in the Second ODI that a result was possible while the Only T20I and the First ODI were washed out without any results.
The Second and the third ODIs were originally scheduled to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo but were shifted here to Pallekele because of the flood situation in the national capital. At Pallekele, the weather is only slightly better though there are plenty of chances that the third ODI will be hit by showers during the afternoon time and also in the evening.
So far there hasn’t really been any real contest between the two teams. In the only T20I, New Zealand suffered batting first on a damp pitch but escaped defeat because of the rain abandonment. In the opening ODI, not a single ball was bowled. And in the Second ODI, there was finally some decent action with the Kiwis batting out the 50 overs and posting a healthy total with their Skipper Ross Taylor leading the way. The tourists though ended up with a defeat as Sri Lanka managed to stay ahead of the D/L par target almost midway during their innings which was cut short by rain.
The Kiwi camp seems to be struggling with two players – Skipper Ross Taylor and Andrew Ellis hit by gastroenteritis. It is learnt that Taylor being the Captain could just manage to play today’s match while Ellis is likely to take rest. Brendon McCullum, who missed the Second ODI with a stiff back is likely to comeback in the team.
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardena (Captain), Angelo Mathews, Kumar Sangakkara (Wicket Keeper), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Jeewan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Upul Tharanga, Akila Dananjaya, Shaminda Eranga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Tharindu Kaushal
New Zealand: Ross Taylor (Captain), Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum (Wicket Keeper),, Nathan McCullum, James Franklin, Rob Nicol, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Kane Wiiliamson, Tom Latham, Trent Boult, BJ Watling (Wicket Keeper),, Adam Milne, Andrew Ellis, Ronnie Hira