Who Will Win Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st T20?
After the test series ended in a 1-1 draw, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will now take on each other in the game's shortest format. The T20 international series is set to kick-off with the first match played on September 1 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. Live telecast is scheduled to begin at 7 PM local time.
Sri Lanka drew first blood in the test series and took a 1-0 lead, beating New Zealand by six wickets in the opening match at Galle. The visitors then showed a lot of character as they bounced back with a dominating victory over the hosts in the final test to square the series. The Kiwis declared their innings with 431 runs on the board after bowling out the Lankans for 244 to gain a 187-run lead in the first innings. New Zealand showed brilliance with the ball again and wrapped up Sri Lanka's second-innings at just 122 runs to inflict a crushing innings-defeat on them.
Where to Watch SL vs NZ 1st T20
TV channels: Sony Six, Fox Sports, Sky Sports, Ten Sports, Willow TV, GTV, Super Sports
Live Streaming: Bet365, SonyLIV, Sri Lanka Cricket YouTube Channel, Sky Sports App
SL vs NZ 1st T20 Weather Report
There could be a delayed start as a few showers and thunderstorms have been forecast for Sunday afternoon. However, it is not expected to rain later in the evening although there should be plenty of cloud cover. Temperatures will be around 22-24 degrees Celsius while humidity will be between 84% and 91% during the match.
SL vs NZ 1st T20 Pitch Condition
The pitch at Pallekele has generally been very good for batting in the 20-overs format of the game. However, there could be some moisture underneath the surface due to showers earlier in the day and that might help seam bowlers a bit more.
SL vs NZ 1st T20 Toss Prediction
Conditions should offer more assistance to the bowlers early on. So even though the side batting first at this ground has won 10 times out of 16 in T20Is, the team that wins the toss here on Sunday is more likely to bowl first.
Read on for team previews, betting odds, betting tips and predictions for Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st T20I....
Sri Lanka Team News & Playing 11
SL Team News
Lasith Malinga will be leading Sri Lanka's 15-man squad for this T20I series. Thisara Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Suranga Lakmal and Jeffrey Vandersay, who were all part of the T20 team that toured South Africa earlier this year, have been ignored for the New Zealand T20Is. The Sri Lankan selectors have included Kusal Perera, Lahiru Kumara, Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Niroshan Dickwella and Kasun Rajitha in addition to all-rounder Danushka Gunathilaka who has returned to the T20 set-up.
SL Key Players
Kusal Perera: He is one of the leading run-getters at Pallekele in T20 internationals with 165 runs in four matches. The left-handed batsman is averaging 41.25 here and is having a strike-rate rate of 141.02. Perera even has a couple of half-centuries at this ground.
Avishka Fernando: The 21-year old batsman has been a revelation for Sri Lanka. The right-hander had a good World Cup where he scored 49, 30 and 104 in his first three games. Avishka recently smashed 82 against Bangladesh at Colombo last month.
Lasith Malinga: The skipper will pose the biggest threat to the New Zealand batsmen. He has been the best bowler for Sri Lanka in T20Is with 100 wickets in 75 matches and is also one of the highest wicket-takers in the format at this ground - 10 wickets in 7 matches.
SL Recent Form
Sri Lanka have not had too many results going in their favor of late in the shortest format of the game. They have won only one of their last nine matches and are seeking their first T20I win of this year after having played four matches. The Lankans played their first T20 international of the year in Januray against New Zealand at Auckland - a one-off match which they lost by 35 runs. They then toured South Africa in March where they played their most recent T20 series in which they suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of the hosts.
Sri Lanka Predicted Playing 11
Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Malinga (c), Lakshan Sandakan, Lahiru Kumara
New Zealand Team News & Playing 11
NZ Team News
Captain Kane Williamson and pace bowler Trent Boult have returned home as the duo has been rested for this upcoming three-match T20 international series. In Williamson's absence, Tim Southee will be in charge of New Zealand's 14-man squad that has three specialist spinners in Todd Astle, Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner. The visitors will probably open their batting with Martin Guptill and Colin Munro while the team's bowling attack will likely be led by Seth Rance and skipper Southee.
NZ Key Players
Colin Munro: The opener is the world's second-best batsman at the moment in the twenty-over format having scored 1411 runs which includes three hundreds and nine fifties. The left-hander is a very dangerous batsman and can take the game away from Sri Lanka if not dismissed early on.
Ross Taylor: He is the most experienced campaigner in this New Zealand batting line-up and the onus will be on him to anchor the innings should the visitors lose a few early wickets. Taylor is one of the team's leading run-scorers in T20Is and he even has a half-century at this ground.
Ish Sodhi: The leg-spinner is among the top ten bowlers in the world in the game's shortest format with 43 wickets in 33 matches at an economy of 7.70. He is coming off an impressive 3-43 in the T20 practice game against Sri Lanka Board Presidents XI and will look to deliver another good performance.
NZ Recent Form
New Zealand have blown hot and cold lately in the 20-overs format having won three and lost five of their last eight T20 internationals. This year, however, the Black Caps have been pretty impressive with three wins from four games. Their previous T20I assignment came in February against India at home. After winning the first of the three matches at Wellington by a whopping 80 runs, they suffered a seven-wicket loss in the second match at Auckland. New Zealand then secured a thrilling four-run victory in the final game at Hamilton to take the series 2-1.
New Zealand Predicted Playing 11
Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert (wk), Ross Taylor, Tom Bruce, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee (c), Seth Rance
Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Head to Head
Sri Lanka and New Zealand have played 16 T20 internationals against each other with the latter leading the scoreline 8-6. One of those encounters has resulted in a tie while one has ended in no result.
Sri Lanka have lost the last three matches they have played against New Zealand in the 20-overs format, including the most recent encounter by 35 runs played earlier this year in January at Auckland.
The two countries have faced each other three times at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in the T20 format. One has been won by Sri Lanka, one has resulted in a tie while one has not produced any result.
SL vs NZ Head to Head Stats
| Matches Played |
SL Won |
NZ Won |
Tie |
Draw |
| 16 |
6 |
1 |
|
1 |
Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Betting Odds
New Zealand are favorites to win this first T20 international at 1.66 with Betway, 1.61 with Bet365 and 1.55 with 10CRIC. Sri Lanka begin as the underdogs amongst the bookmakers and they are being offered at a higher price of 2.10 on Betway, 2.30 on Bet365 and 2.20 on 10CRIC.
🏆 Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Prediction
Sri Lanka would have been very disappointed after losing the second test but they will look to put all that disappointment behind them and focus their attention on the T20Is. The hosts will take confidence from their strong record at Pallekele in this format. They have won five of their last six completed matches at this ground and have also beaten New Zealand here once. The visitors, however, have a superior head-to-head record and have won the last three T20Is they have played against the Lankans. They also have plenty of match-winners in their side as compared to Sri Lanka. New Zealand may be without Kane Williamson and Trent Boult, but we feel they are still good enough to beat the home team and start the series on a positive note.
Sep 01, 2019
19:00 IST / 13:30 GMT
Pallekele Cricket Stadium - Kandy, Sri Lanka
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