Sri Lanka Choose to Bowl First in 37-Over Match After Rain Delay

New Zealand made a change to their XI, bringing in Tom Latham to replace Mitchell Hay. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka also made a substitution, with Maheesh Theekshana coming in for Lahiru Kumara in their lineup. Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first in the second ODI, which was delayed by two-and-a-half hours due […]

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first in the second ODI, which was delayed by two-and-a-half hours due to rain. The match began under cloudy skies in Hamilton, setting the stage for an exciting contest.

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Teams Make Key Changes for 37-Over Match Amid Weather Concerns

The match has been reduced to a 37-overs-a-side contest, with the first powerplay extending for eight overs. Teams will be allowed to use two bowlers for a maximum of eight overs each. In the first ODI, New Zealand’s seamers dominated Sri Lanka’s top order, leading to a comfortable nine-wicket victory with 142 balls to spare, as they chased down 179.

Both teams made changes to their lineups for this match. Tom Latham, who missed the first ODI due to a side strain, returned to replace wicketkeeper-batter Mitch Hay. On the other hand, Sri Lanka brought in spinner Maheesh Theekshana in place of Lahiru Kumara, who had a tough outing in Wellington, going wicketless and conceding eight runs an over.

The weather could have an impact on the match later, with the damp outfield potentially affecting the game at the high-scoring Seddon Park, where the boundaries are generally easy to clear. However, the quick bowlers are expected to benefit from movement with the new ball. The second powerplay will be from the ninth over until the 30th, while the third powerplay will cover the final seven overs of the innings.

New Zealand: 1 Will Young, 2 Rachin Ravindra, 3 Mark Chapman, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Mitchell Santner (capt), 8 Nathan Smith, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Jacob Duffy, Will O’Rourke

Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Kamindu Mendis, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Chamindu Wickramasinghe, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Eshan Malinga, 11 Asitha Fernando

Saikia and Bhatia Set for Unopposed Election as BCCI Secretary and Treasurer

Devajit Saikia and Prabhtej Singh Bhatia are poised to be elected unopposed as the BCCI secretary and treasurer, respectively, on January 12. They are the only two names listed in the final list of contesting candidates, which was finalized by Achal Kumar Joti, the BCCI electoral officer and former Chief Election Commissioner of India, on Tuesday.

The process began last week with the closing of the nomination window, and the deadline for candidates to withdraw their nominations ended at 2pm on Tuesday. With no withdrawals from the nominations, the electoral officer published the list of contesting candidates at 5pm. The election has thus turned into a formality, with the results expected to be announced on January 12, alongside the BCCI’s Special General Meeting (SGM).

Saikia has been serving as the interim secretary of the BCCI since December 1, following Jay Shah’s elevation to the position of ICC chairman. His role as interim secretary has allowed him to play a key part in the board’s administration, and his unopposed candidacy reflects his ongoing involvement in the organization’s operations.

Bhatia, who filed his nomination for the treasurer’s post, will replace Ashish Shelar. Shelar vacated the position after he was appointed as a cabinet minister in the Maharashtra government. Bhatia’s nomination is unchallenged, ensuring that he will assume the treasurer’s role without any opposition.

With both Saikia and Bhatia standing unopposed in their respective roles, the election is expected to conclude smoothly. The results, confirmed as a formality, will be announced on January 12, marking the official confirmation of their positions during the BCCI’s SGM.