NZ vs SL Match Prediction: Who will win today’s New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Match 3 | Cricket World Cup 2019

NZ vs SL Match Prediction: The Sportsrush present before you Match Prediction of 2019 World Cup Match 3 between NZ and SL.

New Zealand and Sri Lanka are set to begin their ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2019 campaign tomorrow. The two sides clash it out at the County Cricket stadium in Bristol. It’s a clash which sees both the sides heading into this encounter in completely different form, with one finding itself in disarray while the other established their stellar credentials against India.

For Sri Lanka, 2019 couldn’t have been any worse. The side were wiped out by South Africa in the T20 and ODI series where they failed to put on even a single win on the board before continuing on their torrid way in the warm-up encounters. It’s a side down and about, something they’ll need to rise from and come out with a well versed game plan when New Zealand come calling.

On the other hand, New Zealand saw both their mainstays, Trent Boult and Kane Williamson take centre stage in the practice matches. Both were at their scintillating best, seeing the side in more than capable hands ahead of their tournament opener.

NZ vs SL – What Numbers suggest?

The two sides have till now met each other 98 times on the cricketing field with New Zealand peeling back the encounter to take it over in recent times. They have recorded a win on 48 occasions while Sri Lanka have won 41 times along with the one drawn result in between as well.

As many as eight matches have ended up being abandoned as well owing to harsh weather conditions and other reasons. The most recent was a three-match ODI series this year which New Zealand handsomely swept 3-0. Away from home, the two sides have met in 28 encounters with the 14 wins for New Zealand, 12 for Sri Lanka and the one drawn and abandoned match.

NZ vs SL – Key Battles

Trent Boult vs Dimuth Karunaratne

Dimuta Karunaratne scored a rousing 87 against a dangerous South African bowling unit before managing to stick around for 36 balls against Australia to show the willingness to sweat it out in the middle. In a batting line-up that has faltered far too often recently, the newly recruited captain looks as the one player who has managed to hold down and establish a brave front in the face of adversary.

Come Trent Boult, someone who has 16 wickets in the 5 matches he’s played against Sri Lanka at an economy rate of 5.2, Karunaratne is no longer going to find things easy. He’s going to straightaway face a bowler who is going to come hot off the blocks with the new ball under his hand.

Boult’s ability to move the ball massively in the air and see it deviate both ways on pitching is well documented and he could well and easily send Karunaratne packing here cheaply.

Kane Williamson vs Suranga Lakmal

21 innings, 685 runs and it’s safe to say that Sri Lanka are an opposition who Kane Williamson loves plying his stupendous goods again. The New Zealand captain has found himself come back to form in the warm-up matches, coming up with two well-worked innings which put him and his side in steady hands ahead of their opening match.

In a paper thin pace attack, Suranga Lakmal has been the only bowler for Sri Lanka who has offered some kind of solace with the regular wickets he’s gotten. His wicket to wicket brand of bowling sees him become a tricky proposition at times to safe, something which could prove to be difficult for Williamson to navigate as well.

ALSO READ: Head to Head | New Zealand vs Sri Lanka | ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Williamson is someone who has problems in working around the out-swinging delivery with his preference to keep fetching at deliveries often finding him edge it to the wicket-keeper. If Lakmal can get the ball to move across from him early on and keep hitting the right lines and lengths, this could prove to be an exciting battle to view.

NZ vs SL – Match Prediction

Given on current form and overall team strength, New Zealand look to be just too strong for Sri Lanka. They are coming off a stellar performance against India and with a pace battery spearheaded by Trent Boult. New Zealand should be able to make the most of the overcast conditions which are set to be a feature throughout the encounter.

Sri Lanka have massive lapses in their batting unit which is all too prone to tumbling under pressure and with a bowling unit that hardly offers much either, seeing them come out of this with a win is tough. New Zealand should be able to pull off a comprehensive win from the encounter and begin their campaign with a win in the bag.