New Zealand and Sri Lanka will face each other in the 2nd T20 of the ongoing series on 10th November in Dambulla.
Match preview:
Sri Lanka outclassed New Zealand in the first T20 of the series winning the game by 4 wickets and taking a lead in the series 1-0.
Sri Lanka will have an ideal chance to win back-to-back T20 series at home as they head into the 2nd T20 with much confidence. Kamindu Mendis has been a standout player for the team regardless of the format and conditions. He continued to shine and has given the team everything they could have asked for in difficult conditions.
Asalanka also played a captain knock in the first T20 and remained unbeaten till the very end. Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage also chipped in with crucial runs and took 2 and 3 wickets, respectively.
Asalanka also believes in developing players and teams for the upcoming edition of the T20 World Cup as he said his aim is to build “15-16” strong players in coming years.
“We’re hoping to play our best XI all the time. That’s how our bench strength improves as well, because they then know how well you have to play to get a spot in that XI. And the players in the XI also fight for their own places. I think we’ve improved that situation recently. Hopefully we can develope 15/16 really strong players over the course of a year”
Talking about New Zealand, they will have to put up a great show with the bat to equal the series. Their bowlers did a pretty good job in the 1st T20 of the game but batting was pretty disappointing. Barring Bracewell and Zakary Foulkes no one was impressive.
Nevertheless, Santner and co. are not looking for the outcome as of now as the main goal is to build this young team for the future.
“Our white-ball squad at the moment is getting on the older side,” conceded Santner on the eve of the first T20I. “So giving these guys a chance to play international cricket, get a feel for it, and when they do maybe break through into that full-strength team. It’s a great series for them to play”
Probable Playing XI:
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara.
New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Will Young, Mitchell Hay, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips (wk), Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner (c), Zakary Foulkes, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.
Pitch and weather report:
Batting won’t be an easy task on this pitch as it was visible in the 1st T20 of the series. The captain who wins the toss should bat first and put up a respectable total on the board. The powerplay will be crucial for this game as whichever team aces powerplay with the bat will have a greater chance to win.
Head-to-head record:
New Zealand and Sri Lanka have played each other in 24 matches. Out of which 13 have been won by New Zealand and 10 matches have been won by Sri Lanka.
Prediction:
Given they have a strong chance to win back-to-back T20 series at home, Sri Lanka is likely to clinch the series.
Where to watch:
India: SonyLiv App
Pakistan: Tapmad
Sri Lanka: Supreme TV, Sony Sports Ten 5 HD – Ch no.124, Ten Cricket – Ch no.65, Sony Sports Ten 5
New Zealand: Sky Sports
UK: TNT Sports 2
Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan: Sony Liv
