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New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI Predictions - In-form Young to get Black Caps off to winning start

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 03 Jan 2025

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Simon Lewis 03 Jan 2025

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Will Young starred for New Zealand in their recent ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Kusal Mendis scored 143 & 74 in his two ODI innings against New Zealand in November.
New Zealand beat Sri Lanka 2-1 in the T20I series.

Expired

Will Young plays to leg against Sri Lanka. (credit: Ishara S. Kodikara / Getty Images)

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Predictions

New Zealand’s whiteball form has improved since they lost the ODI series 2-0 in Sri Lanka in November. They beat Sri Lanka 2-1 in the home T20I series over December and January.

New Zealand’s Will Young has scored 48, 26, 56*, 42, 60 & 50 in his last 6 innings.
New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell scored 62, 18 & 35 in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis was Player of the Series against New Zealand in November.
Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka scored 20 & 46 in his last 2 innings.

Head-to-Head

New Zealand won the recent T20I series against Sri Lanka at home 2-1. In the ODI series that the two teams played in Sri Lanka in November, Sri Lanka won 2-0, with the last match rained-off.

New Zealand Form

New Zealand lost the away ODI series to Sri Lanka 2-0, with the third match rained off.

Jacob Duffy (3/41) and Michael Bracewell (4/36) starred with the ball in the first two ODIs but couldn’t deny Sri Lanka from claiming wins in both matches.

Will Young batted well throughout the series, scoring 48, 26 & 56*, while Mark Chapman (76) and Henry Nicholls (46*) also chipped in with valuable runs.

New Zealand Team News

New Zealand won the T20I series against Sri Lanka but will be looking to avenge their recent ODI series loss in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Form

Sri Lanka won the three-match ODI series against New Zealand 2-1 in November. The last match was rained during New Zealand’s innings, but Sri Lanka won the 2nd ODI by three wickets with an over to spare.

New Zealand were bowled out for 209 off 45.1 overs, with Maheesh Theekshana (3/31) and Jeffrey Vandersay (3/46) starring with the ball.

Sri Lanka knocked off the runs for the win with an over to spare, Kusal Mendis top-scoring with 74* off 102 balls.

Sri Lanka Team News

Sri Lanka will be confident after winning their last match against New Zealand, a T20I two days ago.

Verdict

New Zealand v Sri Lanka - 1st ODI

I am backing New Zealand to win. I am also backing Will Young to top score for New Zealand.

Kusal Mendis is a good bet to top score for Sri Lanka.

New Zealand Win

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