Before the end of the Sri Lanka-New Zealand T20 series, trouble appeared. Both parties have heard the bad news. Both teams have lost star players before the start of the ODI series.
Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand with a hamstring injury. Dushan Hemant has been called for the series instead of him. He is also a leg-spinning all-rounder. Hemant has taken 2 wickets in 5 ODI matches so far. Economy 5.51. He scored 39 runs at an average of 19.5 batting. Kiwis are missing Lockie Ferguson for the ODI series. He has been sidelined with a calf injury. Adam Milne has replaced the Kiwi star pacer in the ODI team.
Hasaranga injured his left hamstring in the second T20 of the series against New Zealand last night. This Sri Lankan legspinner was seen shaking while bowling that day in Dambulla. He took the maximum 6 wickets in the two-match T20 series. An economy of 4.62 shows how much pace the Kiwis have had to play him. He took 4 wickets for 17 runs in the second match. Ferguson scored a hat trick in this match. Has scored a hat-trick as New Zealand's fifth bowler in T20 Internationals. On the day of his feat, New Zealand won by 5 runs to end the two-match T20I series 1-1. Ferguson who took 3 wickets for 7 runs in 2 overs won the man of the match award.
Hemant, who was called instead of Hasaranga, caught the eye in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup that ended a few days ago. Hemant took the maximum 15 wickets in the tournament in the Emerging Teams tournament. Bowled at an economy of 6.50 for Sri Lanka 'A' team. Where he took 6 wickets for 23 runs against the Afghanistan 'A' team at Al Amera in Oman. Afghans beat Sri Lanka in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup. On the other hand, Milne, who was called up instead of Ferguson, was also in the eleven of New Zealand's last ODI match. The Kiwis last played an ODI on December 23, 2023. The Kiwis lost that match against Bangladesh in Napier by 9 wickets.
The Sri Lanka-New Zealand three-match ODI series starts tomorrow in Dambulla. The last two matches will be played on November 17 and 19 at Pallekele. All three ODIs will start at 3 PM Bangladesh time.
