New Zealand and Sri Lanka share a highly competitive cricket rivalry marked by tactical masterclasses, lightning-fast bowling spells, and record-shattering batting encounters across all formats of international cricket.
Head-to-Head Standings (Last 7 Matches)
Match Date
Format
Venue
New Zealand Score
Sri Lanka Score
Match Status
Margin
25-Feb-2026
T20
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
168/7 (20.0)
107/8 (20.0)
New Zealand Won
61 runs
11-Jan-2025
ODI
Eden Park, Auckland
150/10 (29.4)
290/8 (50.0)
Sri Lanka Won
140 runs
08-Jan-2025
ODI
Seddon Park, Hamilton
255/9 (37.0)
142/10 (30.2)
New Zealand Won
113 runs
04-Jan-2025
ODI
Basin Reserve, Wellington
180/1 (26.2)
178/10 (43.4)
New Zealand Won
9 wickets
02-Jan-2025
T20
Saxton Oval, Nelson
211/7 (20.0)
218/5 (20.0)
Sri Lanka Won
7 runs
30-Dec-2024
T20
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
186/5 (20.0)
141/10 (19.1)
New Zealand Won
45 runs
28-Dec-2024
T20
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
172/8 (20.0)
164/8 (20.0)
New Zealand Won
8 runs
Head-to-Head Summary
Format
Matches Played
New Zealand Wins
Sri Lanka Wins
No Result / Ties
Test Matches
38
18
9
11
One-Day Internationals
105
53
43
9
Twenty20 Internationals
26
16
9
1
Upcoming Series Schedule & Venues
Date
Match Format
Venue Stadium
Local Start Time
Match Context
16-Jan-2027
1st ODI
McLean Park, Napier
3:00 PM
Bilateral Super Series
19-Jan-2027
2nd ODI
Sky Stadium, Wellington
3:00 PM
Bilateral Super Series
22-Jan-2027
3rd ODI
University Oval, Dunedin
3:00 PM
Bilateral Super Series
26-Jan-2027
1st T20I
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
8:00 PM
White-Ball Showdown
29-Jan-2027
2nd T20I
Saxton Oval, Nelson
8:00 PM
White-Ball Showdown
31-Jan-2027
3rd T20I
Saxton Oval, Nelson
8:00 PM
White-Ball Showdown
04-Feb-2027
1st Test
Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
11:00 AM
World Test Championship
12-Feb-2027
2nd Test
Seddon Park, Hamilton
11:00 AM
World Test Championship
Most Memorable Match – The Epic Thriller
Match Date
Match Venue
Format
Turning Point Event
Final Result Margin
Hero of the Match
02-Jan-2025
Saxton Oval, Nelson
T20I
Kusal Perera blasting a historic century during a high-octane 429-run aggregate thriller
Sri Lanka won by 7 runs
Kusal Perera
Major Tournament Matches Between Them
Tournament Edition
Match Stage
Venue Location
Batting First Score
Chasing Team Score
Match Result
2026 T20 World Cup
Super Eights
R. Premadasa, Colombo
New Zealand 168/7
Sri Lanka 107/10
New Zealand won by 61 runs
2023 ODI World Cup
Group Stage
M. Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru
Sri Lanka 171/10
New Zealand 172/5
New Zealand won by 5 wickets
2022 T20 World Cup
Super 12
SCG, Sydney
New Zealand 167/7
Sri Lanka 102/10
New Zealand won by 65 runs
Key Performance Leaderboard
Player Name
Core Specialization
Performance Metric
Primary Impact Against Rival
Elite Player Status
Rachin Ravindra
All-Rounder
32 runs & 4/27
Completely dismantled the middle order in Colombo
Match Winner
Mitchell Santner
Bowling All-Rounder
47 runs & 1/19
Counter-attacked with 4 huge sixes under immense pressure
Captain
Maheesh Theekshana
Mystery Spinner
3 wickets for 30
Removed elite top-order bats with lethal carrom balls
Strike Bowler
Kamindu Mendis
Middle-Order Batter
31 runs off 23 balls
Kept the scoreboard ticking when early wickets tumbled
Anchor
The Battlefield: Tactical Power-Plays & Record Breakers (2025-26)
Match Phase
Dominant Team
Strategic Target
Runs / Wickets Margin
Game Impact Level
Mandatory Powerplay
New Zealand
Removing openers early
2 wickets for 24 runs
Stifled run rate
Middle Overs Consolidate
Sri Lanka
Choking spin options
58 runs collected
Kept game balanced
Death Overs Explosion
New Zealand
Target lower-order pace
62 runs in final 5 overs
Pushed total to 168
The Tactical Edge: Strategic Matchups & Squad Dynamics
Key Batter
Targeted Bowler
Bowling Strategy Used
Historical Success Rate
Expected Tactical Outcome
Pathum Nissanka
Matt Henry
Out-swingers on off-stump line
Henry holds 3 dismissals
Early defensive batting
Glenn Phillips
Maheesh Theekshana
Tight defensive spin lines
Balanced split across formats
High-risk boundary attempts
Kusal Mendis
Lockie Ferguson
Fast short-pitched deliveries
Ferguson tracking 35% dots
Pull shot tracking errors
History Re-Written: Every Record Smashed in the 2025/26 Season
Record Title
New Milestone Achieved
Previous Milestone Holder
Match Date
Historical Significance
7th Wicket WC Stand
81-run partnership
64-run partnership
25-Feb-2026
Highest lower-order recovery in a T20 World Cup
Ground Attendance
38,000 Spectators
31,500 Spectators
25-Feb-2026
Highest cricket crowd recorded at RPS Colombo
Fastest T20I Fifty
17 delivery milestone
19 delivery milestone
02-Jan-2025
Fastest individual fifty in NZ-SL bilateral history
Pace vs. Power: The Brutal Numbers Behind the Fastest Bowlers
Bowler Name
Maximum Clocked Speed
Average Match Speed
Short-Ball Percentage
Wickets via Pace
Lockie Ferguson
152.4 km/h
144.2 km/h
42 percent
14 dismissals
Dushmantha Chameera
148.6 km/h
139.8 km/h
35 percent
11 dismissals
Matt Henry
143.5 km/h
137.4 km/h
22 percent
18 dismissals
The Captain’s Gambit: Genius Strategic Moves That Flipped the Game
Captain Name
Tactical Decision Made
Match Situation Context
Direct Result
Strategic Risk Level
Mitchell Santner
Bowling Ravindra in Powerplay
Pitch assisting early turn
Took 2 wickets in 1 over
Extremely High
Charith Asalanka
Holding back mystery spin
Heavy outfield dew setting in
Kept runs down in middle
Medium Risk
The Fortress Chronicles: Stadium Face-offs & Crowd Dominance (2025-26)
Cricket Venue Name
Home Team Advantage
Average First Innings
Crowd Attendance Level
Winning Track Bias
R. Premadasa, Colombo
Sri Lanka
152 runs
Maximum Stadium Capacity
Spin Bowler Friendly
Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui
New Zealand
178 runs
High Local Turnout
Seam and Bounce Favor
Saxton Oval, Nelson
New Zealand
195 runs
Medium Holiday Crowd
Flat Batting Paradise
Final Verdict
New Zealand maintains a definitive psychological edge in ICC tournament matches and fast, bouncy home conditions. However, Sri Lanka remains an absolute powerhouse on subcontinent tracks, turning their home venues into spin-friendly fortresses. This stylistic clash ensures their multi-format cricket rivalry stays incredibly explosive and highly unpredictable for fans worldwide.
