New Zealand Wins 2nd ODI against Srilanka in a rain-affected clash at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on January 8, 2025. New Zealand outshone Sri Lanka in the second One Day International (ODI) to win the series with a dominating 113-run victory. The result has further made an already unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series for the New Zealand side and asserted their superior form and strategy above the visiting team.

Match Summary

The second ODI was reduced to 37 overs per side after continuous rain intervened. New Zealand batted first and could still put up a tough score of 255/9. However, Sri Lanka crumbled to the pressure as they were all bowled out for 142 in 28.5 overs. This made it evident that New Zealand’s winning streak is the result of the sound team coordination batting alliance and the stringency of the bowling line-up.

New Zealand’s Batting Firepower

It was an outstanding batting effort from New Zealand as Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman produced crucial knocks that helped their side build a great total.

Rachin Ravindra

He scored 79 runs on 63 balls. There were 8 fours and 2 towering sixes in the innings of Ravindra as he set the tone for the match with a brilliant display from New Zealand.

Mark Chapman

Has done 62 scores on 52 balls. In contrast, his controlled knock consisted of 5 boundaries and a six to form the skeleton of New Zealand’s batting.

Both Ravindra and Chapman play effortlessly against Sri Lanka and have added a huge favor in the win of the Kiwis. However, Sri Lankan player Maheesh Theekshana also gave a tough time to the team. He stands out with an excellent hat trick and wrapped up the match with 4 for 44. Sadly, even his huge contribution to the match could not able to stop the Kiwis from winning the match.

What Strategy Did Sri Lanka Choose to Chase the Match?

Sri Lanka’s batting lineup caved under severe pressure from New Zealand bowlers. They got out early, losing four wickets within the power play and reaching a precarious situation at 22 for 4.

Kamindu Mendis is the lone warrior for Sri Lanka. He scored a gritty 64 off 55 balls. His innings contained 7 boundaries and a six but lacked end support. The lack of meaningful partnerships and consistent pressure from New Zealand’s bowlers ensured that Sri Lanka’s chase never gained momentum.

The Excellent Bowling From the New Zealand Team

New Zealand played a great match and knocked out the Sri Lankan batting line one by one. New Zealand bowler William O’Rourke’s early strategies have already settled the match tone for New Zealand. As he led the bowling charge, he attacked his opponents with figures of 3 for 31. He diminishes the top batting order of the Sri Lankan team with great bowling.

On the other hand, New Zealand’s other players also added their part in the win. Nathan Smith and Mitchell Santner also contributed to the victory with some important wickets. No doubt, this was a great match and the audience enjoyed it while taking a lot of pressure. The Kiwis played their best game as they did not let the opponents stabilize again and fight for their win.  

Speech of Mitchell Santner (NZ captain)

Santner appreciated his team’s overall performance and emphasized mutual collaboration, togetherness, and partnerships in batting. He also appreciated his teammates who bowled well against the Sri Lankan team. He praised Rachin Ravindra and Mark Chapman for their consistency and highlighted the bowlers’ adaptability to exploit conditions effectively.

Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka)

Asalanka said his side’s batting is what really let them down, which is why they lost. “Application at the top order needs to be improved,” he added, saying he and his teammates will “look to get together again” to play out the final ODI to prevent the whitewash.

Overall Stats of the Match

Overview of the New Zealand Team

Sri Lanka won the and chose to bowl first. New Zealand managed to give a score of 255 to the opponent team for 9 wickets in 37 overs. Kiwi’s two major players have contributed huge innings. Rachin Ravindra scored 79 runs and Mark Chapman scored 62 runs against Sri Lanka. Lastly, Kiwis won this match by 113 runs.  

Overview of the Sri Lankan Team

The Sri Lankan team only scored 142 runs in 28.5 overs against New Zealand. Kamindu Mendis from the team scored 64 runs.

Is This a Major Victory for New Zealand?

New Zealand sealed the 2^nd ODI series with this win. Also, this victory is a testament to their power and strength in their hometown. However, they have also played the best game and shown great power in their batting and bowling. Teams emerging players Ravindra and Chapman added depth to the team’s victory with their great play. They performed a balanced match which led them toward a great win.

Also Read: Golden Globes 2025 and the Stunning Outfits on the Red Carpet

Road Ahead for Sri Lanka

Losing clearly brings out weaknesses in Sri Lanka’s top order, coupled with failure to form a partnership when things go wrong. The one bright spark for Sri Lanka has been the performance of Kamindu Mendis.

Important areas to focus on

• Develop the batting to tackle early loss of wickets.
• Focusing on consistency in both batting and bowling for the final match.

Looking Ahead to the Third ODI

With the series already decided, the final ODI in Christchurch presents contrasting opportunities for both teams:

• New Zealand get a chance to experiment with their lineup and secure a clean sweep.
• Sri Lanka has an opportunity to salvage pride and gain valuable experience for future competitions.
• Expect tactical changes and renewed strategies by both teams in a bid to end the series on a good note.

A 113-run victory for New Zealand in the second ODI, an outcome that signaled they were better than everyone in form and ready. The Black Caps’ superb batting skills supported by brilliant and disciplined bowling left the opposition blank. Going into the final match of the ODI series, New Zealand expects to emerge victorious, while Sri Lanka will seek redemption to get out of the series with some sort of satisfaction.