New Zealand and Sri Lanka are all set to lock horns in the second T20I at the Bay Oval on December 30.
Match Preview:
Both sides played each other in the first T20I at the Bay Oval as well on December 28. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first. Sri Lanka managed to get some early wickets and put pressure on New Zealand.
Daryl Mitchell played a brilliant knock of 62 to help New New Zealand through the rough period. Michael Bracewell also chipped in with 59 runs as New Zealand scored 173 runs in 20 overs.
Sri Lanka got off to a great start as the openers Kusal Mendis and Nissanka put up a partnership of 90 runs.
However the Kiwi bowlers made a great comeback. Sri Lanka needed 53 runs in the last 6 overs. Due to the brilliant bowling performances of Duffy and Henry, the visitors came out on top and won the match by 8 runs
Duffy took 3 wickets for 21 while Matt Henry took 2 wickets for 28 runs.
Sri Lanka would look forward to winning the game to set a decider. Not so long ago, both of the teams met each other in a bilateral series and tied it. But this time we can expect the result since it’s a three-match T20 series..
Talking about New Zealand they will look forward to winning to be in good form ahead of the tri series and ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
For Sri Lanka, the middle order should perform well and for New Zealand the top order should take responsibility.
Probable Playing XI:
New Zealand:
Robinson, ravindra, chapman, phillips, daryl, hay, bracewell, Santner, foulkes, duffy, henry
Sri lanka:
Kusal mendis, Nissanka, Parera, Kamindu Asalanka, Rajapaksa, Hasara
Pitch and weather report:
The weather forecast is looking great, with a mix of sunshine and clouds expected. Temperatures will range from 13°C to 27°C, and the chance of rain is a mere 4%.
As for the pitch, Bay Oval is a batsman’s dream come true! The track offers good bounce and early movement, making it ideal for a high-scoring Twenty20 International.
However, as the game progresses, the pitch tends to slow down, giving bowlers an upper hand. Interestingly, spinners have a slight advantage over fast bowlers on this ground, with better economy rates.
Bay Oval’s T20I record reveals a fascinating trend: out of 12 matches played, the team chasing has emerged victorious only once!
This statistic suggests that the toss-winning captain will likely opt to bat first, given the significant advantage of setting a target on this ground.
Head-to-head record:
A total of 26 games have been played between the said nation. New Zealand is leading the chart having won 15 games while Sri Lanka could only claim victories in 10 games. One game ended with no result.
Prediction:
New Zealand is favourite to win the game.
Where to Watch:
Pakistan: Tapmad
India: SONY LIV app and website
Others: Crichd
