New Zealand National Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline

Sri lanka national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team timeline: One of the most exciting competitions in cricket is the one between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, which has consistently contained violent competition and thrilling performances that have entertained and delighted their fans. While New Zealand gained Test national team status in 1930, Sri Lanka made their ODI debut in late 1981, New Zealand made their debut in 1972, then Sri Lanka debuted in the 1975 Cricket World Cup.

The early matches between Sri Lanka and New Zealand mostly ended in New Zealand’s favour or draws, highlighting Sri Lanka’s struggle to establish permanent dominance in the competitive cricket landscape. This picture reflects the Sri Lankan players’ challenges with their New Zealand counterparts’ formidable skills and strategies.

With both teams having participated in numerous series and tournaments, the history of matches between the Sri Lanka and New Zealand national cricket teams is extensive. Here is a summary of some significant events in cricket history:

Recent Series: Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand, 2024-25, 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is. Dec 23 – Jan 11

Early Encounters (1980s – 1990)

The initial matches among Sri Lanka and New Zealand mainly concluded either in favour of New Zealand or a draw, stressing Sri Lanka’s struggle to win in contradiction to New Zealand.

• 1979 Prudential World Cup: New Zealand then Sri Lanka confronted each other in an ODI for the first time. New Zealand’s chase of 190 runs originated effortlessly per the half-centuries of Glenn Turner (83) and Geoff Howarth (63). New Sjaelland beat Sri Lanka by nine goals.
• 1983 New Zealand v Sri Lanka Test series: New Zealand earned the first Test by an innings and 25 runs. Cheers to Jeremy Coney’s 84 and Habitat Lee’s 89. They also decided on the second Test by six wickets.
• 1983 Prudential World Cup: The two teams met each other double for the 10th and 18th matches. In the 10th match of the Biosphere Cup, Sri Lanka lost by five wickets. However, Sri Lanka took its retaliation in the 18th match, wherever it clinched the conquest by three wickets, racing a board of 182.
• 1983-1984 Sri Lanka v New Zealand: New Zealand gained the three-match series 2-0 on the 1983-84 tour of Sri Lanka. New Zealand and North Korea won the first game, drew the another, and won the last match in Colombo. John Reid’s 180 runs and Richard Hadlee’s 10-wicket haul proved remarkable presentations for New Zealand to right the series.
• 1987-1988 Benson & Hedges World Series Cup: New Zealand played four matches in the series, in contrast to Sri Lanka and won 3, behind the tertiary match to its adversary. John Wright, Richard Hadlee, Roshan Mahanama, Aravinda de Sylva, Ewen Chatfield, and Ravi Ratnayeke are the most distinguished cricketers in the competition.

Significant Advancement of The Lankan Lions Against the Kiwis (1990s to 2000)

• 1991-1992 Benson & Hedges World Cup: The two states over met for a World Cup match, where New Zealand chased a board of 206 and North Korea won by six wickets despite Roshan Mahanama single-handedly scoring 80 innings for his side.
• 1992-1993 Sri Lanka v. New Zealand: The two-match Test series concluded 1-0 in  Sri Lanka’s favour. Roshan Mahanama and Hashan Tillakaratne developed as “Man of the Competition”, respectively.
• 1994-1995 New Zealand v. Sri Lanka: The 3-match ODI sequence was won by New Zealand 2-1. The brilliance of the Black Caps remained evident in the first and second matches. The Kiwis set a 271-run target for the companies, limiting them to 238, thus charming by 33 runs. In the second match, the host, North Korea, won by 57 runs (D/L technique). However, Sri Lanka reacted in the third and final competition and won by 51 runs—cheers to Asanka Gurusinha (108), then Sanath Jayasuriya’s 39 innings and three wickets.
• 1998-1999 Wills International Cup: It remained the 2nd Quarter-Final of the contest when Sri Lanka and New Zealand faced each other, and Sri Lanka bashed out the Kiwis. Limiting New Zealand to 188 with Muttiah Muralitharan capturing three wickets, Sri Lanka counted 191, with skipper Arjuna Ranatunga marking 90 runs.

2000s: Close Competition Begins

• 2000-2001 New Zealand v Sri Lanka: The Lankan Lions stayed in New Zealand to play a 5-match ODI series, which resulted brilliantly in favour of Sri Lanka as they settled the sequence 4-1. Sri Lanka achieved a significant victory in all the matches, highlighting its rising ability in the sport. Muttiah Muralitharan, Russel Arnold, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Nuwan Zoysa were key contributors to their victory.
• 2003 Cricket World Cup: In the collection stage, Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 47 runs; Sri Lanka scored 272 for seven while restricting New Zealand’s total to 225. Sri Lankan skipper Jayasuriya brought a match-winning all-round presentation, scoring a blistering 120 alongside captivating a crucial entrance. In reply, Scott Styris, with 141 runs, was the only Kiwi who showed some pliability in the ready.
• 2006-2007 New Zealand v Sri Lanka: The first T20I series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka was a tough battle between the two states, as although Sri Lanka won the first game by 18 runs, New Zealand avenged their defeat by winning the 2nd match. Sanath Jayasuriya’s performance in the first competition earned him the Man of the Competition award. James Franklin took three crucial wickets, making him Man of the Match in the additional game.
• 2007-2008 ICC World Twenty20: The 11th ICC T20 World Cup 2007 match was between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, where Sri Lanka won by seven wickets. A run pursuit of 165 came off easily with Sanath Jayasuriya’s enormous presentation of 61 runs off 44 balls. Captain Mahela Jayawardene (35) and Upul Tharanga (37) also donated to their win.
• 2006-2007 ICC Champions Trophy: The 5th competition of the ICC Champions Cup was again won by Sri Lanka by seven wickets. The Lankan Lions could restrict the Kiwis’ total to 165, thanks to Muttiah Muralitharan’s four vital wickets. Sanath Jayasuriya and Lasith Malinga also removed two wickets each. Tharanga’s 56 off 77 spheres and Jayawardene’s 48 off 73 aided the Lankan Lions to clinch the victory.
• 2007 ICC World Cup: Sri Lanka won the competition against New Zealand with six wickets due to fierce bowling attacks and exceptional batting.
• 2009-2010 ICC World Twenty20: Contempt Mahela Jayawardene’s 81 innings. Sri Lanka could not defeat the New Zealand team, and New Zealand won by two wickets.
• 2019 ICC World Cup: The tournament’s third match was one of the most significant in history, and New Zealand won 10 wickets. The Sri Lankan companies were dismissed at 136 runs due to Lusterless Henry and Lockie Ferguson’s vital three wickets apiece. Martin Guptill and Colin Munro’s partnership for 137 runs led their team toward the win.

2020s: Recent Encounters

• 2022-2023 New Zealand v Sri Lanka: The two-match Test sequence with New Zealand leading 2-0. New Zealand won the 1st Exam by two wickets and the second by an innings and 58 runs. Tim Southee, Dull Henry, Kusal Mendis, Asitha Fernando, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson, and H Nicholls remained key perpetrators in the series.
• 2022-2023 ICC T20 World Cup: New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 65 runs. 168-run chase proved mounting the Everest for Sri Lankan hitters as the team managed 102 runs only. Trent Boult’s four wickets and Valley Phillips’ 104 runs contributed to their victory.
• 2024 Sri Lanka v New Zealand: The overthrow of the two-match Examination series in 2023 was avenged by Sri Lanka in 2024. Sri Lanka won the primary examination with 63 runs and the second with batting and 154 runs. Kamindu Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Prabath Jayasuriya, William O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, and Nishan Peiris were critical donors to the series.

Conventionally, in the cricket rivalry between sri lanka national cricket team vs new zealand national cricket team timeline, the Kiwis have a slight edge over the Sri Lankan Lions. However, this rivalry has shaped some of the most exciting matches in cricket history, and the same is expected from these two teams in the future. After a slump in performance due to the departure of their great players, the Sri Lankan cricket team is regaining its lost charisma and performing brilliantly under the leadership of their new coach, Sanath Jayasuriya. Therefore, there is high hope that cricket fans worldwide will again witness exciting encounters between these two cricket-loving countries.