On a night when it mattered the most, the all-rounder produced a scintillating performance to ace yet another pressure game

Natalie Sciver-Brunt

Alyssa Healy

Harmanpreet Kaur

Meg Lanning

Hayley Matthews

Sophie Ecclestone

Yastika Bhatia

Grace Harris

Women's Premier League, 2023

Mumbai Indians

UP Warriorz

Clutch Sciver-Brunt does it again

2022 was a season to forget for Mumbai, but by the looks of it, 2023 may not be very different

Jofra Archer

Jasprit Bumrah

Jason Behrendorff

Jhye Richardson

Rohit Sharma

Suryakumar Yadav

Indian Premier League, 2023

IPL 2023: Mumbai brace for a turbulent season 

The English all-rounder is fearless, aggressive and more importantly, the archetypal Indian Premier League player

Issy Wong

England

Issy Wong, as fast as Lightning McQueen

Last season saw RCB transition out of Virat Kohli’s captaincy and finish fourth in the league stage

Virat Kohli

Faf du Plessis

Glenn Maxwell

Dinesh Karthik

Josh Hazlewood

Mohammed Siraj

Wanindu Hasaranga

Royal Challengers Bangalore

IPL 2023 Preview: Ee Sala..?

Make no mistake, we are living on this new planet called, ‘Lazarus’

Smriti Mandhana

It's 2040, and RCB are still chasing a title

No more the Dad’s army, Thala’s men will have a point to prove come this year’s IPL

MS Dhoni

Ravindra Jadeja

Deepak Chahar

Ambati Rayudu

Ben Stokes

Dwaine Pretorius

Ajay Mandal

Prashant Solanki

Chennai Super Kings

IPL 2023 Preview: The Last Dance for Thala Dhoni's army

A defeat in the first Test saw Sri Lanka exiting the WTC final race. They followed it up by another loss and suffered a white-wash. Now the focus shifts towards the ODIs. Sri Lanka are fighting for direct qualification to the mega event (ODI World Cup), which is to happen later in the year.The scenario isn&rsquo;t different to what it was at the start of the Test series. They had to white-wash their opponents to qualify for the WTC finals, and here as well, they need to win the series 3-0 to topple West Indies and South Africa.The hosts have no pressure on them as they are sitting pretty at second in the table. However, their home record is at stake. In the last five bilateral ODI series, New Zealand haven&rsquo;t lost a single one. Interestingly, apart from the India series (1-0) in 2022, they have white-washed each of their opponents in the remaining four.Ground detailsThe Eden Park, Auckland, is certainly one of the smallest grounds across the globe. One end of the straight boundary is less than 50 meters, and the covers to the right-handers and midwicket to left-handers is just above 50 meters.Keeping in mind the small boundaries, teams in the last five matches have all chosen to bowl first. However, those dimensions can be deceptive in the elongated limited over format. Which is why, teams batting first have won three out of the last five.In terms of wickets percentage, pacers have dominated that by picking up 80.6 percent of the wickets as compared to 19.4 percent. There is nothing to differentiate between the both when it comes to strike rate. Pacers have snaffled a wicket every 36.7 balls and spinners have done it in 36.6 balls. &nbsp;Suggested Team&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1679678873541-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">While you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from <a href="https://www.cricket.com/fantasy-research-center/213916/nz-vs-sl-1st-odi-sri-lanka-tour-of-new-zealand-2023/create-team" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Cricket.com&rsquo;s Fantasy Research Centre</a>. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.Captaincy suggestionFor small leagues: <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/10167/tom-latham/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tom Latham</a> (capt), <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/65027/wanindu-hasaranga/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Wanindu Hasaranga</a> (vice-capt)For grand leagues: <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/66368/pathum-nissanka/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pathum Nissanka</a> (capt), <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/60544/matt-henry/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Matt Henry</a> (vice-capt)Stats that matter-In the last 10 home ODIs, Tom Latham has scored 611 runs at an average of 122.2 and a strike rate of 112.5. He has hit three centuries and two half-centuries, with 145* against India, being his best. Overall, in home ODIs since 2019, among batters who have played 10+ innings, Latham&rsquo;s average of 82.7 is the best.-In the last 10 ODIs against New Zealand in their backyard, Sri Lanka have managed to win only two. One ended as a no-result and the remaining seven were losses. In the last four matches in New Zealand, they have lost all four.-Post the 2019 ODI World Cup, New Zealand have played 11 bilateral series and have lost only three. All the three came in an away bilateral series. Twice against Australia, and one against India in 2023.Grand league punts-Pathum Nissanka has been the flag bearer for Sri Lanka in ODIs since 2022, in the batting department. The batter has scored 563 runs at an average of 51.2. Among the Lankan batters who have scored 50+ runs, only two batters average 40+ and Nissanka is the only to average 50+.-It&rsquo;s not only in Tests, Matt Henry has been in great form in the ODIs as well. In 2022, the right-arm quick scalped 18 wickets at an average of 23.2 and a strike rate of 29.5. Alongside Trent Boult, Henry was the leading wicket taker for New Zealand last year.Top Criclytics predictions<img src="https://images-cricketcom.imgix.net/1679678839064-articleimg" style="width: 600px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"> Probable XINew Zealand: Finn Allen, Chad Bowes, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c &amp; wk), Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Blair Tickner, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Ish SodhiSri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Mahesh TheeksahanaPowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

Here are a few tips that could help you create your fantasy XI for the first ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka

Tom Latham

Pathum Nissanka

Matt Henry

Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand, 2023

New Zealand

Sri Lanka

Fantasy Preview: Bank on batters and all-rounders

Ex-South Africa Under-19 captain <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57392/chad-bowes/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chad Bowes</a> and all-rounder <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/66053/rachin-ravindra/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rachin Ravindra</a> will make their One-Day International (ODI) debuts for New Zealand against Sri Lanka when the three-match series starts Saturday (March 25).Bowes is set to open the batting for the Blackcaps at Auckland&#39;s Eden Park more than a decade after skippering South Africa&#39;s juniors at the 2012 Under-19 World Cup before moving to New Zealand.Ravindra has already played three Tests and six T20 Internationals (T20I) for New Zealand.&quot;Both guys have earned their spots through performances in the domestic white-ball arena, so we&#39;re really excited about the opportunity,&quot; said New Zealand captain Tom Latham.After whitewashing Sri Lanka 2-0 in the Tests, <a href="https://www.cricket.com/news/tom-latham-to-lead-odi-squad-against-sri-lanka-1678763289645" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">New Zealand have released several stars</a> including Kane Williamson, Tim Southee and Devon Conway to their Indian Premier League (IPL) teams.The sides are looking to break their ODI losing streaks -- New Zealand and Sri Lanka both lost all three ODIs on separate tours of India in January. Sri Lanka head into the New Zealand series needing to win all three matches to claim a direct spot at the ODI World Cup in India later this year. New Zealand have already qualified.Sri Lanka have included experienced former Test captain Angelo Mathews in their white-ball squad. Captain Dasun Shanaka is confident that Sri Lanka can win in Auckland, Christchurch and Hamilton over the next week to avoid having to play in an ODI World Cup qualifying tournament.&quot;It&#39;s possible. It depends on the day. New Zealand is a good side and we aren&#39;t taking anything for granted. We need to do the hard work to win the series,&quot; the all-rounder added.Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

After whitewashing Sri Lanka 2-0 in the Tests, New Zealand have released several stars including Kane Williamson, Tim Southee and Devon Conway to their IPL teams

Rachin Ravindra

Chad Bowes

Rachin Ravindra, Chad Bowes set for ODI debut against Sri Lanka

Having already potentially lost their skipper <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/63961/shreyas-iyer/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shreyas Iyer</a> for the entirety of the season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are now sweating profusely on the fitness of talisman pacer <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/63719/lockie-ferguson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lockie Ferguson</a>, who has been ruled out of the ODI series against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring strain.Ferguson, who was brought in prior to the auction by KKR (around the range of INR 10 crore in an all-cash deal), was scheduled to feature in the first ODI against Sri Lanka at Eden Park, on March 25, before traveling to India and joining the Knight Riders&rsquo; camp.However, after suffering a hamstring injury and failing a fitness test, he will no longer feature in the ODI series versus the Lankans.The injury was confirmed by BlackCaps&rsquo; bowling coach Shane Jurgensen.While the extent and the severity of the injury is unknown, KKR will be hoping for it to be a slight strain and nothing more. Should the injury prove to be a serious one, it will leave Tim Southee as the only available overseas seamer for the first few games of their campaign.Iyer being ruled out of the entirety of IPL 2023 is something that&rsquo;&rsquo;s not confirmed, yet, but with him certain to be unfit for the first few matches of the season, the franchise is expected to name a stand-in captain. Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine are believed to be the front-runners, although there&rsquo;s a chance that KKR might also look at Shakib al Hasan as a potential candidate.&nbsp;Powered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

After suffering a hamstring injury and failing a fitness test, the speedster will no longer feature in the ODI series versus Sri Lanka

Lockie Ferguson

Kolkata Knight Riders

KKR sweating on Lockie Ferguson’s fitness as pacer suffers hamstring injury

New Zealand have announced their squad for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka starting on March 25 at Eden Park in Auckland with <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/10167/tom-latham/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tom Latham</a> at the helm.&nbsp;It is a reasonably new-look New Zealand side, with the majority of the players opting for rest or travelling to India early for their commitments with respective franchises in the Indian Premier League, including regular skipper <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/4330/kane-williamson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kane Williamson</a>.&nbsp;The home team will have a depleted look in the final two outings, with <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/66046/finn-allen/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Finn Allen</a>, Glenn Phillips and <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/63719/lockie-ferguson/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lockie Ferguson</a> scheduled to leave the team after the completion of the first ODI.&nbsp;The squad also includes<a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/57392/chad-bowes/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;Chad Bowes&nbsp;</a>and <a href="https://www.cricket.com/players/67886/benjamin-lister/career-stats" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ben Lister</a> as the two uncapped players in the ODI squad to face the Lankans. While the left-arm pacer made his T20Is debut for the national side against India last month, Bowes is the leading run-scorer for Canterbury in white-ball cricket with 359 T20 runs at an average of 39.89.&nbsp;<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ICYMI | The squad for the ANZ ODI Series against Sri Lanka 🏏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NZvSL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NZvSL</a> Story | <a href="https://t.co/jG8ZzXlopY">https://t.co/jG8ZzXlopY</a> <a href="https://t.co/WXFoMCvnSA">pic.twitter.com/WXFoMCvnSA</a>&mdash; BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) <a href="https://twitter.com/BLACKCAPS/status/1635388477251411968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2023</a></blockquote>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s always exciting as a coach to have new players in the environment and to have players putting their hands up to be selected again in a particular format,&quot; head coach Gary Stead stated in the press release.&nbsp;&ldquo;Chad has been impressive for a number of seasons at the top of the order for Canterbury as well as being an excellent fielder.&rdquo; &nbsp;&ldquo;We are set to play 16 white ball matches between now and the start of May, so there will be a number of chances for players to test themselves in familiar and unfamiliar conditions,&quot; he further added.&nbsp;New Zealand have also recalled Tom Blundell and Will Young to the fifty-over format, and Stead feels that the wicket-keeper batter&#39;s inclusion in the squad is based on his performances in the last 12 to 18 months.&nbsp;&ldquo;Tom Blundell, in particular, is someone who we&rsquo;ve been hugely impressed by in international cricket over the past 18 months as a leader in the Test team and then domestically with the Wellington Firebirds.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an exciting opportunity for Tom ahead of a big year of white ball cricket. Ben&rsquo;s had a challenging time in the past six to seven months, but he&rsquo;s back fit again, and we are really excited by the point of difference he brings to the bowling group,&quot; he concluded.&nbsp;After the first ODI on March 25, the two sides will lock horns in Christchurch on March 28 and Hamilton on March 31.&nbsp;New Zealand ODI squad:Tom Latham (Captain), Finn Allen (1st ODI only), Tom Blundell, Chad Bowes, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman (2nd &amp; 3rd ODIs only), Lockie Ferguson (1st ODI only), Matt Henry, Ben Lister (2nd &amp; 3rd ODIs only), Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls (2nd &amp; 3rd ODIs only), Glenn Phillips (1st ODI only), Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Blair Tickner, Will YoungPowered by <a href="https://www.froala.com/wysiwyg-editor?pb=1" title="Froala Editor">Froala Editor</a>

New Zealand have also included Chad Bowes and Ben Lister in the squad in the absence of senior players

Kane Williamson

Benjamin Lister

Finn Allen

Tom Latham to lead ODI squad against Sri Lanka

NZ vs SL ODI 1st ODI, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand, 2023 - Commentary

NZ VS SL,1st ODI

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