New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Live Cricket Updates, 2nd ODI in Mount Maunganui: Taylor Key as NZ Lose Three

Cricketnext Staff | Updated: January 5, 2019, 8:22 AM IST

2nd ODI, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui 05 January, 2019

Live Now : Toss won by New Zealand (decided to bat)

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, Live Cricket Updates, 2nd ODI in Mount Maunganui: Taylor Key as NZ Lose Three

Catch all the live updates from the second ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Mount Maunganui.

Beaten 4-1 and then 3-0 by England in home ODI and Test series, and then smashed in the second Test against New Zealand, the Asian side have had to feed off scraps, a sharp spell or a promising innings having to make do in place of proper challenges.

In that context, though it ended in sizeable defeat by 45 runs, the first ODI was one of Sri Lanka’s more positive recent results. Though the bowlers went round the park, Kusal Perera’s fourth ODI century and a sparkling 76 from Niroshan Dickwella gave Sri Lanka brief hopes that they could threaten New Zealand’s total of 371/7. Now the challenge for those two is to build on their efforts, and for their teammates to recognise that competing is not beyond them.

For New Zealand, the situation is similar in that the result can be less fulfilling than the manner in which it is achieved. With the World Cup looming, and with New Zealand expected to be one of the front-runners, there is the air of a checklist, with more and more ticked off every game – that’s the No.5 locked in, we’re a step closer to knowing our spinner, that sort of thing.

There was one significant box checked in the first ODI, with Jimmy Neesham, playing his first game for New Zealand since 2017, going a long way towards nailing the all-rounder’s spot, smashing five sixes in an over and then claiming three wickets. But elsewhere with the bat it was the usual suspects putting their hands up.

Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, and Ross Taylor all made runs, but Henry Nicholls and Colin Munro each failed. The pair have fully cracked the longest and shortest format respectively, but for both big scores in the 50-over game have eluded them. New Zealand will of course be desperate to win and claim the series honours, but it would be all the sweeter if one of those two played a significant part in securing the victory.