Netherlands (NED) and Sri Lanka (SL) will lock horns in the 19th match of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, on Saturday, October 21.
The Netherlands are riding high after their surprising triumph against South Africa, which was nothing short of a wonder. They pulled off a stunning victory at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. On the other hand, Sri Lanka are struggling with a three-match losing streak, with their latest defeat coming at the hands of Australia in Lucknow.
Both teams have faced a rollercoaster of playing conditions. The Netherlands, led by captain Scott Edwards, played Pakistan and New Zealand on friendly batting tracks in Hyderabad. They later took on South Africa in Dharamsala, where the pitch posed a more challenging task. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka, led by Kusal Mendis, faced South Africa on a batting paradise in Delhi and encountered a similar wicket against Pakistan in Hyderabad.
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The Ekana Stadium has witnessed a variety of outcomes in the two matches held there. In one game, a team struggled with a steep run chase, while in another, the team batting first found it difficult to score runs easily.
SL vs NED Weather Forecast & Pitch Report World Cup 2023:
According to AccuWeather, there is no rain expected, with temperatures starting at 26°C and potentially reaching 31°C throughout the day. The pitch and weather report indicates 46% humidity, a temperature close to 32°C, and 11 km/h winds. There might be some clouds during the game that could assist pace bowlers, but there is no threat of rain.
Ekana Cricket Stadium’s pitch report:
Historically, the Ekana Stadium wickets have favoured spinners during the IPL, but the track has been revamped for the World Cup to ensure competitive matches. In the last match played here, Sri Lanka struggled and reached 209 and Australian spinners dominated. Australia, in response, comfortably chased down the target with over 14 overs to spare.