- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,980
After the conclusion of the Test series, hosts Sri Lanka and New Zealand will meet in a three-match Twenty20 International series, with one eye on next year’s ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Australia.
Sri Lanka v New Zealand, 1st T20I
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
01 September; 07:00pm local, 01:30pm GMT
New Zealand last played a T20I in Sri Lanka back in November 2013, a one-off game that they lost to the hosts by eight wickets in Pallekele. However, they have the superior overall head-to-head record in the shortest format, having won seven of the 11 games they have played against them in bilaterals.
The visitors will be without their regular captain Kane Williamson and ace paceman Trent Boult, who have both been rested. New Zealand will be led by Tim Southee, and have three specialist spinners in Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner and Todd Astle in their 14-man squad.
New Zealand played a practice T20 game against a Sri Lanka Board Presidents XI and won comfortably by 33 runs, with Scott Kuggeleijn returning 4/19, while Sodhi chipped in with three wickets. Can they carry the same form into Sunday?
Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh 3-0 in a one-day international series at home in July, and will look to replicate that in the shortest format against New Zealand. The young side will be led by veteran paceman Lasith Malinga, who will offer much-needed experience. With the next instalment of the T20 World Cup just over a year away, this three-match series will give Sri Lanka's new crop a great opportunity to prove their credentials ahead of the marquee T20 tournament.
Remember the last time
New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 35 runs in a one-off affair in Auckland. Southee, who was captain then, too, was asked to bat, and his side set Sri Lanka a competitive target of 180. A combined bowling effort from the home team then bowled the visitors out for 144.
What they said
Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka captain: "There are about 19 T20 matches before 2020 T20 World Cup. Whoever is captaining the team, we need to have a good, strong squad, so that we can go into that tournament with confidence. Starting with this series, I'm hoping to build a good T20 squad for Sri Lanka."
Tim Southee, New Zealand captain: "Whenever you come to another country, you've got to respect the opposition and their conditions. Sri Lanka's got some young, talented players."
Conditions
The weather looks promising, although clouds will linger through the day, with the temperature expected to hover around 25°C. Given the conditions, Pallekele is expected the assist the fast bowlers.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1330109
Sri Lanka v New Zealand, 1st T20I
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
01 September; 07:00pm local, 01:30pm GMT
New Zealand last played a T20I in Sri Lanka back in November 2013, a one-off game that they lost to the hosts by eight wickets in Pallekele. However, they have the superior overall head-to-head record in the shortest format, having won seven of the 11 games they have played against them in bilaterals.
The visitors will be without their regular captain Kane Williamson and ace paceman Trent Boult, who have both been rested. New Zealand will be led by Tim Southee, and have three specialist spinners in Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner and Todd Astle in their 14-man squad.
New Zealand played a practice T20 game against a Sri Lanka Board Presidents XI and won comfortably by 33 runs, with Scott Kuggeleijn returning 4/19, while Sodhi chipped in with three wickets. Can they carry the same form into Sunday?
Sri Lanka defeated Bangladesh 3-0 in a one-day international series at home in July, and will look to replicate that in the shortest format against New Zealand. The young side will be led by veteran paceman Lasith Malinga, who will offer much-needed experience. With the next instalment of the T20 World Cup just over a year away, this three-match series will give Sri Lanka's new crop a great opportunity to prove their credentials ahead of the marquee T20 tournament.
Remember the last time
New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 35 runs in a one-off affair in Auckland. Southee, who was captain then, too, was asked to bat, and his side set Sri Lanka a competitive target of 180. A combined bowling effort from the home team then bowled the visitors out for 144.
What they said
Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka captain: "There are about 19 T20 matches before 2020 T20 World Cup. Whoever is captaining the team, we need to have a good, strong squad, so that we can go into that tournament with confidence. Starting with this series, I'm hoping to build a good T20 squad for Sri Lanka."
Tim Southee, New Zealand captain: "Whenever you come to another country, you've got to respect the opposition and their conditions. Sri Lanka's got some young, talented players."
Conditions
The weather looks promising, although clouds will linger through the day, with the temperature expected to hover around 25°C. Given the conditions, Pallekele is expected the assist the fast bowlers.
https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1330109
Last edited:
