Last Update on: November 9th, 2023 at 11:48 am
Sri Lanka takes on New Zealand in their final league stage game before the ICC World Cup semi-finals. The match will be played in Bengaluru on November 9. The match starts at 2 pm IST and is a must-win game for the Islanders.
They are heading into this game on the back of three losses that haven’t trotted since their win against England. A win takes them to eight points which might not be enough to take them to the knockouts. Sri Lanka after their loss against Bangladesh went to eighth on the points table.
Their previous loss against Bangladesh came under controversial circumstances. Against New Zealand, they have a good record in World Cup winning six out of the 11 games played. A win against New Zealand takes them to six points which might not be enough for a place in the final four.
The Sri Lankan batters had a good performance against Bangladesh and need to replicate that against the Kiwis. They scored 279 against Bangladesh in Delhi and need to target at least over 300 against New Zealand.
The NZ vs SL match is under rain threat in Bengaluru. There is a 90 percent chance of rain that might play spoilsport in the match. There is a forecast of rain throughout the next week in Bengaluru. In this article, we predict Sri Lanka’s playing XI for the game. Having won against Bangladesh, they should stick to the same XI.
Sri Lanka Playing 11 vs New Zealand – ICC World Cup 2023, Match 41
Pathum Nissanka
Nissanka will open the batting for Sri Lanka. He scored 41 off 36 balls against Bangladesh. Overall, he has scored 330 runs in 8 matches at an average of 47.14. He has scored four fifties in the tournament so far.
Kusal Perera
Kusal Perera was preferred over Dimuth Karunaratne in the previous match. However, he scored just four from five balls. Sri Lanka needs Perera’a’s attacking instincts as a batter at the top of the order.
Kusal Mendis (C/WK)
Mendis is leading Sri Lanka in Dasun Shanaka’s absence. He scored just 1 off 10 balls and was dismissed by Mohammed Siraj against India. He scored 19 off 30 balls and was dismissed when he was well set.
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Samarawickrama will slot in at four. He was one of the five batters to be dismissed for a suck against India. He also has a century in this tournament against Pakistan. He also has scored two unbeaten fifties. Against Bangladesh, he scored a crucial 41 off 42 balls.
Charith Asalanka
Asalanka will bat at five, He too is an attacking batter but was dismissed for 1 off 24 balls against India. Against Bangladesh, he scored 108 off 105 balls scoring his first World Cup ton.
Angelo Mathews
Mathews was called in as Dasun Shanaka’s replacement to the side. He scored 12 off 25 balls against India and was cleaned up by Shami. Against Bangladesh, he was controversially timed out after the decision against him was upheld by the on-field umpire after Bangladesh’s appeal.
Dunith Wellalage / Dhananjaya de Silva
De Silva was preferred over Wellalage in Delhi. He scored 34 off 36 balls and bowled a few overs as well. Sri Lanka might just stick with him against New Zealand.
Dushmantha Chameera
Chameera replaced Lahiru Kumara in the side. Against India, he scored a duck and went for 71 off his 10 overs. He has taken 51 wickets in 46 games. He was initially not a part of the Sri Lankan ODI side.
Kasun Rajitha
Kasun Rajitha will be the second seamer in the playing XI. He went for 66 off his spell without a wicket. The pacer has taken eight wickets from five games in the tournament so far.
Dilshan Madushanka
The left-arm pacer has taken 20 wickets in the tournament so far and is the leading wicket-taker so far. Against India, he took five for 80. He has taken 30 wickets from 14 ODIs.
Maheesh Theekshana
Theekshana concludes the predicted playing XI for Sri Lanka against Bangladesh. Without Hasaranga he has been half as effective. He went for 67 in 10 overs against India.
