COLOMBO: (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka will begin their limited-overs series against New Zealand with a two-match Twenty20 series, starting on Saturday, November 9, at Dambulla. The second T20 game is scheduled for the following day, also in Dambulla.
The teams will then move to a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, beginning on Wednesday, November 13, in Dambulla at 2:30 PM. The series continues at Pallekele with a day-night match on Sunday, November 17, and concludes with the final ODI on Tuesday, November 19.
New Zealand has named a second-string white-ball squad, led by left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner. Key players in the side include all-rounder Glenn Phillips, pacer Lockie Ferguson, and spinner Ish Sodhi. Uncapped batter Mitchell Hay, 24, and batting all-rounder Nathan Smith have also been included in the lineup.
New Zealand’s main players are absent from this tour, having just concluded a victorious 3-0 Test series in India under Tom Latham’s leadership. Players like Devon Conway, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Matt Henry, and Tim Southee are sitting out to prepare for New Zealand’s upcoming home Test series against England, set to begin on November 28.
The Sri Lanka series offers New Zealand’s emerging talents a chance to shine, while Sri Lanka looks to capitalize on the Kiwis’ reshuffled lineup.
