Re: ODI cricket and general cricketing discussion [self - mod]
What a poor start from Sri Lanka in the ODI series. Sri Lanka had won the last ODI series against New Zealand in their home ground. But they are showing the opposite form now in the away match. SL has lost the match for the batting collapse of their top order. The 5th wicket partnership of Janith Liyanage and Avishka Fernando helped SL to make a little comeback from the batting disaster of top order. NZ has chased the target very easily. I believe NZ will win this ODI series.
After losing the T20 series, the Sri Lankan team started the ODI series with a loss in the first game. I wouldn't mind if they have lost after fighting but here they had no idea how to bat in an ODI game. They got all out for 178 runs and it never looked at anytime that they had any intent to make any partnerships. Sri Lanka lost their top 4 wickets at 23. At that time Avishka Fernando made 56 runs and Janith Liyanage made 36 runs. Once those players were out, no one was there who could take Sri Lanka out of trouble.
Sri Lanka's batting is a nightmare and needs to be improved instantly otherwise they will lose this series too. The next match is on Wednesday, still some days for the Sri Lanka team to focus on batting.
Once again New Zealand won the game. Back in the last T20 match, they took Sri Lanka lightly and they were already winning the series that is why they were not too serious for the last game.
But now it is new series and ODI games, New Zealand did not compromise in performance and on 26th over, they chased the full target while amazing effort by the batsmen. Earlier the bowlers did a wonderful job, they picked all the wickets of Sri Lanka at 178. The player of the game is Matt Henry, he took 4 wickets and gave just 19 score.