PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field in the second one-day international against New Zealand on Sunday.
Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando smashed centuries in Sri Lanka’s 45-run win under the DLS method in a rain-affected first ODI on Wednesday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
New Zealand retained the same playing XI which struggled against Sri Lanka’s spinners in the first game at Dambulla in which all-rounder Nathan Smith, opening batter Tim Robinson and wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay all made their ODI debuts for the tourists.
The home team further strengthened its spin attack with left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage brought in as the fourth slow bowling option. Wellalage replaced fast bowler Dushan Madushanka.
The series will provide New Zealand a build up for next year’s Champions Trophy tournament, which Sri Lanka failed to qualify for by finishing ninth in last year’s World Cup in India.
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Lineups:
New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (captain), Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
