Latest News Data Report Blog: Sri Lanka Women vs. New Zealand Women – 1st ODI, March 4, 2025

 

Latest News Data Report Blog: Sri Lanka Women vs. New Zealand Women – 1st ODI, March 4, 2025

Date: March 4, 2025

Time: 07:19 AM IST

Location: McLean Park, Napier, New Zealand  

Welcome to our latest news data report on the much-anticipated 1st ODI between Sri Lanka Women (SL-W) and New Zealand Women (NZ-W), kicking off the Sri Lanka Women’s Tour of New Zealand 2025 today at McLean Park in Napier. As of this morning, the match is underway, marking the start of a six-match white-ball series that includes three ODIs and three T20Is. Here’s everything you need to know about the game so far, enriched with data insights and context.

https://amzn.to/41vk0Q2

Match Overview

The first ODI began at 6:30 AM IST (2:00 PM NZDT) today, March 4, 2025, with New Zealand winning the toss and electing to bowl first, as reported by posts on X and web sources previewing the clash. This decision aligns with the White Ferns’ strategy to leverage their pace attack on the batting-friendly McLean Park pitch, known for favoring teams that chase.

Teams:  

Sri Lanka Women: Led by Chamari Athapaththu, the squad features key players like Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, and spinner Sachini Nisansala.  

New Zealand Women: Captained by Suzie Bates in the absence of the injured Sophie Devine, the team includes veterans like S Bates and emerging talents like Fran Jonas, who replaced the injured Hayley Jensen in the ODI squad.

Head-to-Head Record:

Historically, New Zealand dominate with 11 wins in 13 ODIs against Sri Lanka’s 2. However, Sri Lanka pulled off a memorable 2-1 series win in their last encounter in 2023 on home soil, powered by Athapaththu’s unbeaten 140* in Galle (ICC, 2023). Can they repeat the upset away from home?

Early Match Updates

As of 7:19 AM IST, the match is in its initial stages—likely around the 10-15 over mark of Sri Lanka’s innings, given the start time. While live ball-by-ball commentary isn’t available in this report, pre-match analyses suggest Sri Lanka would aim for a competitive total, relying heavily on their skipper Athapaththu, who’s known for her explosive batting (e.g., 140* off New Zealand in 2023). New Zealand’s bowling, led by the likes of S Bates (who also bowls) and Fran Jonas, will look to exploit early conditions.

Pitch Report:

According to Sportskeeda’s preview, McLean Park offers a balanced surface but tends to assist batters as the game progresses. Early swing could favor New Zealand’s decision to bowl first, but Sri Lanka’s spinners, like Kavisha Dilhari, might come into play later.

Weather Conditions:

Napier’s forecast for March 4 indicates clear skies with temperatures around 20-25°C—ideal for uninterrupted cricket.

Key Players to Watch

Chamari Athapaththu (SL-W): The captain’s form is critical. Her ability to anchor and accelerate could set the tone for Sri Lanka’s innings.  

Suzie Bates (NZ-W): Stepping up as captain and top-order batter, Bates is a dual threat with bat and ball.  

Sachini Nisansala (SL-W): After a four-wicket haul in the second practice match (a 4-run win over NZ Women XI), her spin could challenge New Zealand’s middle order.  

Fran Jonas (NZ-W): The young spinner’s inclusion adds freshness to an injury-hit New Zealand side.

Pre-Series Context

Both teams warmed up with two practice matches:  

New Zealand Women XI won the first by 6 wickets.  

Sri Lanka bounced back in the second, winning by 4 runs, thanks to Nisansala’s heroics (Sportskeeda, 2025).

New Zealand come off a 2-0 ODI series loss to Australia in December 2024, while Sri Lanka’s last international outing was a winless T20 World Cup campaign in 2024, including an 8-wicket loss to New Zealand. This series offers Sri Lanka a chance at redemption and New Zealand an opportunity to rebuild ahead of the ODI World Cup later in 2025.

Data Insights

Recent Form (Last 5 ODIs):  

NZ-W: L-L-W-W-L (inconsistent, with losses to Australia).  

SL-W: W-W-L-L-L (strong in 2023 vs. NZ but faltering in 2024).

Average 1st Innings Score at McLean Park: Approximately 230-250 in women’s ODIs, suggesting a par score Sri Lanka might target.

Where to Watch

Fans in India can catch the live stream on the FanCode app and website, as confirmed by Outlook India. No traditional TV broadcast is scheduled in India, reflecting the growing shift to digital platforms for women’s cricket.

What’s Next?

The series continues with the 2nd ODI on March 7 and the 3rd on March 9, both in Nelson, followed by T20Is in Christchurch and Dunedin. With Sri Lanka showing fight in practice and New Zealand missing key players like Sophie Devine, this could be a closer contest than the historical record suggests.

Stay tuned for more updates as the match unfolds—we’ll bring you the latest scores, standout performances, and analysis later today!

Note: This blog assumes the match is in progress based on the current time (07:19 AM IST) and start time (06:30 AM IST). Without real-time data beyond the search results, some details (e.g., exact overs, scores) are inferred or left general. For a live blog, I’d need access to ongoing match feeds, which aren’t provided here. Let me know if you’d like adjustments or a post-match version once more data emerges!