Sri Lanka v New Zealand 1st T20I: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

After a keenly contested Test series, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will clash in the first T20I of the three-match series, which will be played entirely at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. While New Zealand have already qualified for the 2020 World T20, Sri Lanka will have to play the Qualifiers next month – and this will serve as much-needed practice.

New Zealand have won their last two series, 2-1 against India and 1-0 against Sri Lanka, both at home in 2019. While they have done reasonably well in the subcontinent, taking on Akila Dananjaya and Lakshan Sandakan on Sri Lankan soil is never an easy proposition.

While the absence of Kane Williamson and Trent Boult are likely to hamper their performance, they still have their senior men in Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, and stand-in captain Tim Southee. Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi both have outstanding records in T20 cricket, and are likely to thrive on dry pitches.

Sri Lanka will be boosted by Lasith Malinga, who will have support from a band of greenhorn pacers and two probing spinners. In Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, and Niroshan Dickwella, they have a trio of explosive batsmen who are always dangerous, especially in home conditions.

Head to head

New Zealand hold a slight edge (8-6) here including wins in the last 3 clashes, all of them at home. They hold a 2-1 lead even on Sri Lankan soil.

Key players

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka): Malinga, currently on 97 wickets, needs to take 2 wickets here to become the leading wicket-taker in the history of T20Is, and another to become the first to the 100-milestone. Given his penchant for these occasions, he is likely to be New Zealand’s biggest threat in the upcoming series.

Tim Seifert (New Zealand): The start to Seifert’s T20I career – a strike rate of 162 after 11 T20Is – is as good as it gets. He hit headlines earlier this year with his 43-ball 84 against India at Wellington; with 139 runs at a strike rate of 173, he was also named Player of the Series. He is also one of the better wicketkeepers around.

Likely XIs

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Malinga (c), Dasun Shanaka, Lahiru Kumara, Lakshan Sandakan

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert (wk), Tom Bruce, Ross Taylor, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee (c), Seth Rance, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson

Prediction

New Zealand to win and go one-up.