New Zealand will take on Sri Lanka in the second ODI of the three-match series at Saxt??on Oval in Nelson. The series opener was washed out due to rain, leaving both teams eager to get their first win and tak??e the lead in this crucial contest.

Sri Lanka Women tour of New Zealand 2025: 2nd ODI

• Date and Time: March 7; 11:00 am local/ 03:30 am IST (March 7)/10:00 pm (March 6) GMT
• Venue: Saxton Oval, Nelson

Saxton Oval Pitch Report 

Saxton Oval in Nelson, New Zealand, will host their second-ever Women’s One Day International (WODI) on Friday. The venue has previously staged only one Men’s ODI, which was played in 2014. Known for its competitive playing conditions, Saxton Oval offers equal support for both batters and bowlers, making it a venue where both disciplines come into play effectively.

Batting first at Saxton Oval is expected to be challenging, particularly in the morning session, when conditions are likely to favor seam bowlers. The pitch tends to assist movement early on, making it tough for batters to score freely. However, as the game progresses, the surface settles, and the ball comes on to the ba??t more effectively, providing better stroke-making opportunities. Given this pitch behavior, teams winning the toss ?will likely prefer to bowl first, allowing their bowlers to exploit the early movement before taking advantage of improved batting conditions later in the match.

NZ-W vs SL-W Dream11 Prediction Picks:

• Wicketkeepers: Anushka Sanjeewani, Isabella Gaze
• Batters: Harshitha Samarawickrama, Maddy Green, Nilakshi de Silva
• All-rounders: Chamari Athapaththu, Suzie Bates, Jess Kerr
• Bowlers: Achini Kulasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, Hannah Rowe,

NZ-W vs SL-W Dream11 Prediction Captain and Vice-Captain:

• Choice 1: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Suzie Bates (vc)
• Choice 2: Isabella Gaze (c), Achini Kulasuriya (vc)

Also READ: New Zealandâ€?™s Lauren Down gets ruled out o??f Sri Lanka ODIs due to back injury; replacement announced

NZ-W vs SL-W Dream11 Prediction Backups:

Brooke Hall??iday, Emma McLeod, Manudi Nanayakkara, Rashmika Sewwandi,

NZ-W vs SL-W Dream11 Team for today’s match (March 6, 10:00 pm GMT):

Squads:

New Zealand: Lauren Down, Isabella Gaze, Maddy Green, Georgia Plimmer, Suzie Bates (c), Brooke Halliday, ?Emma McLeod, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Hannah Rowe, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis.

Sri Lanka: Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Anushka Sanjeewani, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Nilakshi de Silva, Ch??amari Athapaththu (c), Kavisha Dilhari, Manudi Nanayakkara, Rashmika Sewwandi, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Achini Kulasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, S?achini Nisansala, Udeshika Prabodhani, Chethana Vimukthi.

Also READ: Not MS Dhoni! Beth Mooney picks? the ??greatest wicket keeper of all-time

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

For latest cricket news & updates, visit betvisa69.com.

The much-anticipated first Women’s ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka got underway today at McLean Park in Napier. Both teams entered the contest with high hopes of securing an early advantage in the three-match series. After winning the toss, New Zealand opted to bowl first, and the decision paid off as Sri Lanka struggled to build partnerships. The visito?rs kept losing wickets at regular intervals before rain interrupted play.

Polly Inglis shines on debut with a juggling catch

Amidst the intense battle, New Zealand’s debutant wicketkeeper Polly Inglis grabbed the spotlight with a remarkable catch. On the third ball of the 19th over, Jess Kerr bowled from wide of the popping crease, angling the ball in towards Vishmi Gunaratne, who was batting on 30. Guna?ratne attempted a cover drive but g??ot a thick outside edge.

Positioned behind the stumps, Inglis reacted swiftly to the fast-moving ball but initially fumbled the catch. However, she showed great composure and quick ?reflexes to juggle the ball before safely securing it in her gloves, completing a sharp dismissal. The spectacular effort sent Gunaratne back to the pavilion and further strengthened New Zealand’s grip on the game.

Here is the video:

Edged and gone! Vishmi Gunaratne (30) is caught behind by wicketkeeper on debut, Polly Inglis. Follow LIVE and free in NZ on @TVNZ + & DUKE 📺 and @SportNationNZ 📻 Live scoring | //t.co/6t0mX3SVib #NZvSL #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/UVFBPgB5Er

— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) March 4, 2025

Also READ: NZ vs SL, Sri Lanka Women Tour of New Zea?land, 2025: Broadcast and Live Streaming details �When and Where to watch in India, South Africa and other countries

Sri Lanka’s struggle and rain interruption

Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Sri Lanka managed to reach 147/5 in 36.4 overs before rain halted play. The standout performer for the visitors was Harshitha Samarawickrama, who displayed resilience against New Zealand’s quality bowling attack. She remained u??nbeaten on 66, keeping Sri Lanka’s hopes alive.

As the teams await further updates on the weather, fans will be eager to see whether Sri Lanka can post a competitive total or if New Z??ealand will continue their dominance in the opening match of the ??series.

Also READ: NZ-W vs SL-W: Sri ?Lanka’s best playing XI for the ODI ??series against New Zealand

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

For latest cricket news & updates, visit betvisa69.com.

Sri Lanka return to international cricket with their tour to New Zealand where they will play a 3-match ODI and a 3-match T20I series against the BlackCaps. With Chamari Athapaththu leading the line for the island nation, Sri Lanka team comes with a blend of experience and youth in their squad. They have included several uncapped players in their squad, leaving out experienced campaigners Inoka Ranaweera and Ama Kanchana.

New Zealand, on the other hand, also missed out on some major players like Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, Molly Penfold, and Bella James. Thus, several young talents have earned their mai??den call-up ??for the home side.

Sri Lanka Women tour of New Zealand 2024: 1st ODI

• Date and Time: March 4; 02:00 pm local/ 6:30 am IST/01:00 am GMT
• Venue: McLean Park, Napier

McLean Park Pitch Report

Nestled in Hawke’s Bay on the eastern coast of New Zealand’s North Island, Napier is renowned for its dry climate. This lack of moisture means McLean Park’s pitch tends to be incredibly batting-friendly, offering little of the bounce and movement seen at other New Zealand venues. Known for its high-scoring nature, McLean Park ranks among the world’s top grounds for limited-overs cricket, where big totals are often expected. The surface remains true and flat early on, providing the batters with plenty of opportunities to score. However, as the game progresses, the pitch tends to slow down, subtly aiding spinners and requiring batters to adjust their approach. Despite this, the overall conditions make it a favorite for those who enjoy attacking cricket.

NZ-W vs SL-W Dream11 Prediction Picks:

• Wicketkeepers: Anushka Sanjeewani, Isabella Gaze
• Batters: Harshitha Samarawickrama, Maddy Green
• All-rounders: Suzie Bates, Chamari Athapaththu, Jess Kerr, Kavisha Dilhari
• Bowlers: Hannah Rowe, Eden Carson, Achini Kulasuriya

NZ-W vs SL-W Dream11 Prediction Captain and Vice-Captain:

• Choice 1: Suzie Bates (c), Chamari Athapaththu (vc)
• Choice 2: Isabella Gaze (c), Achini Kulasuriya (vc)

Also Read: New Zealand’s Bella James ruled out of Sri Lanka ODIs due to injury; replac?ement announced

NZ-W vs SL-W Dream11 Prediction Backups:

Brooke Halliday?, Emma M?cLeod,Manudi Nanayakkara, Rashmika Sewwandi,

NZ-W vs SL-W Dream11 Team for today’s match (March 4, 01:00 am GMT):

Squads:

New Zealand: Lauren Down, Isabella Gaze, Maddy Green, Georgia Plimmer, Suzie Bates (c), Brooke Halliday, Emma McLeod, Eden Ca??rson, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Han??nah Rowe, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis.

Sri Lanka: Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Anushka Sanjeewani, Kau?shini Nuthyangana, Nilakshi de Silva, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Kavisha Dilhari, Manudi Nanayakkara, Rashmika Sewwandi, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Achini Kulasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, Sachini Nisansala, Udeshika Prabodhani, Chethana Vimukthi.

Also Read: NZ??-W vs SL-W 2025: New Zealand’s best playing XI for the ODI series again?st Sri Lanka

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

For latest cricket news & updates, visit betvisa69.com.