Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, 2nd T20I, Kandy: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

Having dramatically secured a draw in the two-match Test series, New Zealand will look at the second T20I in Kandy on Tuesday, September 2, and see a chance for victory. But if Sri Lanka are to play the way they did in the first T20I, that’ll be easier said than done.

New Zealand were pushed hard all the way. They were piled under 174 runs, for the loss of just four wickets, and were then reduced to 39/3 chasing a target of 175. Had it not been for the big-hitting skills of Colin de Grandhomme (44 off 28) and Ross Taylor’s canny 29-ball 48*, New Zealand would have been left in the dust.

That had a lot to do with Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lanka captain. He brought to the forefront all his many skills with the ball, and gave away just 23 runs in his four overs, taking two wickets along the way. He will, undoubtedly, be the biggest threat New Zealand face in Kandy.

That said, New Zealand will back themselves to once again outdo the home side. Tim Southee – with figures of 2/20 – did better than Malinga in terms of numbers, and it’s a matter now of one of Martin Guptill or Colin Munro at the top firing and getting them off to a quick start.

This should be interesting.

Head to head

Sri Lanka have a poor record against New Zealand in T20Is – they have lost nine of their 17 matches, winning just six. In fact, in six matches against New Zealand at home, they have won just one. History, however brief, favours the visitors.

Key players

Lasith Malinga: The Sri Lanka captain may have retired from all other internationals formats, but he showed just how powerful a force he can still be in T20Is. Expect more of that from the veteran. Malinga is still deadly, and New Zealand will do well to see him off.

Colin de Grandhomme: The New Zealand all-rounder is something of a gentle giant, who slips under the radar in all formats. But in T20Is, his big-hitting tendencies can be both a destructing agent, and also a relief for teams on the crumble. It was the latter on Sunday, and New Zealand will hope it can be the former in Kandy.

Likely XIs

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera (wk), Vishwa Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Akila Dananjaya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Malinga (c), Kasun Rajitha

New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Ross Taylor, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Seth Rance, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi

Prediction

New Zealand to work their way around Malinga and secure the series.