Sri Lanka vs West Indies 1st T20I, Pallekele: Preview, prediction, likely XIs

Having swept the ODIs 3-0, Sri Lanka will now host West Indies for 2 T20Is, both at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Several giants of the format – Lasith Malinga, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell – will feature in the series, which means some excellent cricket is on the cards.

Sri Lanka has had an eventful time of late, losing 0-3 in South Africa last March and 1-2 to New Zealand at home in September. Then they surprised everybody by thrashing Pakistan in Pakistan with a second-string side – before losing 0-3 in Australia and 0-2 in India.

However, with Malinga, Angelo Mathews, and Thisara Perera back in the mix, and an explosive top order eager to blast away, Sri Lanka will be a threat.

West Indies last won a bilateral T20I series in 2018, in Bangladesh. Since then they have lost 0-3 to England and India, both at home and 1-2 against both Afghanistan and India, in India before holding Ireland to a 1-1 draw at home.

They have not been in greatest form of late, but with their T20 specialists back, they will be a unit to reckon with. However, Sri Lanka will still take field as favourites.

Head to head

Sri Lanka have won 6 matches and West Indies 3, but West Indies have won the last 2 matches between the sides.

Key players

Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka): The leading wicket-taker in the history of Men’s T20Is is back. With his toe-crushing yorkers and canny variations, Malinga is back to spearhead the Sri Lankan attack.

Andre Russell (West Indies): Even if we one excludes his bowling and incredible athleticism, Russell can change the course of entire matches with the pyrokinetics he creates from his bat.

Likely XIs

Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Shehan Jayasuriya, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Lakshan Sandakan, Lasith Malinga (c).

West Indies: Shai Hope (wk), Lendl Simmons, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard (c), Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh Jr, Sheldon Cottrell.

Prediction

Sri Lanka to go one-up.