After an entertaining and competitive Test series which ended in a tie, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will lock horns with each other in the first of the three-match T20I series at Pallekele on Sunday. Both teams will start their preparations for the T20 World Cup next year with this series.
All three matches of the series are going to be played at the same venue and, hence, both teams would be eager to gain early momentum in the series.
Weather Conditions: Overcast conditions will prevail during the match and, thus, it will help the pacers a little.
Pitch Conditions: The pitch is very batting friendly at this venue. Scores of 170-plus can be expected across both innings. Change of pace will be the key for the pacers whereas the spinners will have a role to play as well.
Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka will look to prepare well for the mega event next year considering their disappointing outing in the recently concluded ICC 50-over World Cup. They will be led by an experienced Lasith Malinga and have several other talented round players like Avishka Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan and Akila Dananjaya.
Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Malinga (C)
New Zealand:
The visitors, led by Tim Southee, have included some talented players like Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert and Tom Bruce in
After an entertaining and competitive Test series which ended in a tie, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will lock horns with each other in the first of the three-match T20I series at Pallekele on Sunday. Both teams will start their preparations for the T20 World Cup next year with this series.
All three matches of the series are going to be played at the same venue and, hence, both teams would be eager to gain early momentum in the series.
Weather Conditions: Overcast conditions will prevail during the match and, thus, it will help the pacers a little.
Pitch Conditions: The pitch is very batting friendly at this venue. Scores of 170-plus can be expected across both innings. Change of pace will be the key for the pacers whereas the spinners will have a role to play as well.
Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka will look to prepare well for the mega event next year considering their disappointing outing in the recently concluded ICC 50-over World Cup. They will be led by an experienced Lasith Malinga and have several other talented round players like Avishka Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan and Akila Dananjaya.
Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Malinga (C)
New Zealand:
The visitors, led by Tim Southee, have included some talented players like Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert and Tom Bruce in their squad. All of them have proven themselves in T20 leagues around the world and it's just a matter of carrying that confidence to the international level.
Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert (WK), Tom Bruce, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee (C), Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson
Top Picks:
Wicket-Keeper: Kusal Perera (9.5 Cr)
The Sri Lankan keeper-batsman has been in excellent batting form across all formats since the start of the year. The supreme batting conditions at Pallekele suggest a big innings from him.
Batsman: Colin Munro (10 Cr)
The Kiwi top-order batsman is one of the most dangerous T20 players in the world. He has three T20I centuries to his name and that sums up his credentials as a batsman.
All-Rounder: Isuru Udana (9 Cr)
The Sri Lankan all-rounder has got a very good change of pace and also can wield the ling handle to good effect. He will bowl mostly at the death, which will give him plenty of opportunities to pick wickets. Moreover, he gets promoted up the order often and that might give him additional batting points too.
Bowler: Lasith Malinga (9.5 Cr)
The veteran bowler was one if the better players for Sri Lanka in the recently concluded World Cup. He might have lost a bit of pace but he still has the skills to make batsmen dance to his tunes.
Captain: Isuru Udana
Vice-Captain: Kusal Perera
Dream11 Team:
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are of the author and is not a reflection of the actual points you might earn.
