New Zealand and Sri Lanka Check World Cup Combinations

Tauranga: High on confidence after a big win in the second Test, hosts New Zealand will take on Sri Lanka in the one-day international leg of the tour, with both teams seeing the games as a way to to get their World Cup combinations right.

The first ODI of 2019 will likewise check the start the of the last round of arrangements for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019. The World Cup is booked to start from 30 May this year and has New Zealand, the finalists of the 2015 release, will hope to work out their last blend amid a string of home ODIs.

The first of those is against Sri Lanka, whom they beat serenely in the second Test to secure the two-Test arrangement 1-0, and will hope to convey that force into the restricted overs set-up.

White-ball authorities Colin Munro, Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham are back in the blend as are Lockie Ferguson and Ish Sodhi. Mitchell Santner, the turn knocking down some pins every single rounder, pass up a great opportunity.

Driving the accuse of the bat will be commander Kane Williamson and helping him will be the accomplished Ross Taylor, as the two New Zealand enormous firearms hope to get keeps running in the bank before the worldwide competition starts.

Tim Southee and Trent Boult will lead the new-ball assault, helped in the rocking the bowling alley by Doug Bracewell, Ferguson and Sodhi. Tim Seifert has been named the pro wicket-attendant.

For Sri Lanka, it's another stage under the captaincy of Lasith Malinga, who supplanted Dinesh Chandimal. And keeping in mind that Angelo Mathews' damage and ensuing exclusion from the squad comes as a blow, Sri Lanka have a decent blend of adolescents and experienced cricketers to give them a decent, adjusted squad.

Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera and Niroshan Dickwella make a power-pressed batting line-up, and Malinga drives the knocking down some pins that has Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Pradeep and Kasun Rajitha.

Lakshan Sandakan, the left-arm wrist-spinner, is the lead turn bowler and Seekkunge Prasanna will bowl with him.

Dasun Shanaka makes a decent quick knocking down some pins all-rounder. Sri Lanka were lowered by England at home amid their last ODI arrangement and will hope to start their 2019 on a decent note.

Teams from

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Henry Nicholls, Ross Taylor, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee

Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Asela Gunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Lakshan Sandakan, Seekkuge Prasanna, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Pradeep, Lahiru Kumara

Pitch and conditions
A warm, sunny day is expected in Tauranga with 70% humidity.

Stats and trivia

• The last ODI played at the Bay Oval was in February 2018 where England bowled New Zealand out for 223.
• New Zealand have won eight and lost three of their home ODIs against Sri Lanka since the start of 2015.

Match facts
Thursday, 3 January 2019 (d/n)
Start time: 14:00 local (01:00 GMT)