Sri Lanka are all set to lock horns with New Zealand in the first T20I of the two-match series at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla on Saturday, November 9. The Kiwis were whitewashed in a two-match Test series in the Island Nation by Dhananjaya de Silva's men in September. The tourists will look to exact revenge with a solid performance in the shortest format of the game.
Sri Lanka and New Zealand didn't have memorable campaigns in the T20 World Cup earlier this year. The two cricketing powerhouses failed to progress beyond the first round. This will be the first T20I assignment for the Blackcaps since the marquee event. Mitchell Santner will lead the side after Kane Williamson stepped down following the T20 World Cup debacle.
There are plenty of new faces in the New Zealand camp to look forward to. These players will look to make a mark for the national team and repay the faith shown by the selectors. With the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction on the horizon, players will have an added incentive to bring out their best.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have played six T20Is since the T20 World Cup. They were whitewashed by a relatively inexperienced India side at home in a three-match series in July. However, the Charith Asalanka-led side bounced back against the West Indies in Dambulla in a three-match series as they came from behind to win 2-1 last month.
The home side has assembled a very strong squad, with a fine mix of youth and experience. They also know the conditions very well and will be hopeful about winning back-to-back T20I series in front of their home fans.
Also Check: Sri Lanka announce ODI-T20I squads for New Zealand series
Match Details
| Match | Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, 1st T20I |
| Venue | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| Date & Time | November 9, Saturday, 7 pm IST |
| Live Broadcast & Streaming Details | Sony LIV, FanCode (app and website) |
Pitch Report
The Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium has been a venue which has favoured the spinners. In the recent T20I series between Sri Lanka and the West Indies, the average first innings score was around 168. Chasing could be a better option at this venue, especially with rain threat looming over the match.
Head-To-Head Records
| Matches Played | 23 |
| Won by Sri Lanka | 09 |
| Won by New Zealand | 13 |
| No Result | 01 |
| First-ever Fixture | January 17, 2007 |
| Most-recent Fixture | April 8, 2023 |
Also Check: Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Match Prediction - Who will win today’s 1st T20I match between SL vs NZ?
Predicted Playing XI
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's strength lies in their spinners. However, with all the rain in Dambulla in the days leading up to the clash, captain Asalanka said that they could drop one spinner for a seamer if the conditions are overcast. If Sri Lanka go in with three pacers and two spinners, Dunith Wellalage may sit out and Asitha Fernando could get a look in.
Predicted XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara.
New Zealand
New Zealand will want their experienced players to step up and guide the younger players along the way. It won't be easy for them to counter the quality spin bowlers in Sri Lanka's ranks. The likes of Will Young, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner played important roles for the Kiwis in their historic 3-0 Test series win against India earlier this month. They will look to take confidence from that result and thrive against the Lankan Lions.
Predicted XI: Tim Robinson, Will Young, Mitchell Hay, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips (wk), Dean Foxcroft, Mitchell Santner (c), Zakary Foulkes, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.
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