Following the historic 3-0 test win over India, the New Zealand team are back to participate in a series of 2 T20 matches against Sri Lanka. New Zealand and Sri Lanka have faced each other 23 times in T20 cricket history. Of these 23 occasions, the kiwi team have emerged victorious 13 times, whereas, Sri Lanka have 9 wins to its name. Mitchell Santner will be leading the guest squad, whereas, Charith Asalanka will take the reins of captaincy for the Sri Lankan team.
Live Streaming Info
Fans can tune in to watch NZ Vs Sri live on Tens Sports and A Sports in Pakistan, Sony Sports Network in India and Sri Lanka, and Willow TV in the USA. This match will be streamed at 6:30 pm PST, 7:00 pm IST, and 1:30 pm GMT.
Team Analysis
The biggest strength of the Kiwi squad is their dominant batting line-up featuring key players like Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, and Michael Bracewell. These players have a decent strike rate in T20I cricket and can put quick runs on the table while optimizing the usage of powerplay. However, light should be shed upon the fact that many of the senior and experienced New Zealand players are not a part of this T20I squad.
These include Devon Conway, Tom Latham, and the young star, Rachin Ravindara. This particular parameter can put the guest squad at a difficult stance and might prove to be costly for them. Mitchell Santner and Ish Soshi are the only two experienced bowlers in the kiwi squad. Rest of the bowling line-up is composed of younger and relatively inexperienced players like Zakray Foulkes and Josh Clarkson. Let’s see how well these young players perform under pressure.
Perhaps, the biggest asset of the Sri Lankan team in this series is their dynamic opening duo composed of Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. This classy pair are known for their aggressive batting talents in T20 cricket and together they can build a strong foundation for their team’s batting innings. Nissanka’s lethal technique complements Mendis’s defensive play, while ensuring the maximum usage of powerplay.
Wanindu Hasaranga, the star Sri Lankan spinner also deserves special mention as a valuable tool for his team. Hasaranga has superb statistics in his home conditions and he can prove to be absolutely lethal for the Kiwi batting line-up. Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage accompany Hasaranga in the bowling department and together the three of them can change the course of the entire game in a matter of a couple of deliveries.
Match Insights And Conclusion
The key impact players for this 1st T20I game include Kusal Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mitchell Santner, and Glenn Phillips. We expect a high scoring encounter at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, filled to brim with epic drama, entertainment and thrill for cricket fans. If you want to watch NZ Vs Sri live, scroll above and click on the link provided.
