Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

SL vs NZ 2nd T20I Preview Dream11 & MyTeam11. Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 2nd T20I Preview Dream11 & MyTeam11 Prediction

Pallekele was rocking and the pitch was turning. Sri Lanka’s T20I fortunes, haunted by a lack of success in their past 10 matches, could just get the kick it needed in front of a bumper crowd. However, missed opportunities and big overs were costly, as New Zealand’s calmness came up trumps in a closely fought opening T20I.

The series is on the line for the home side, who need Lasith Malinga to lead from the front as the entrusted skipper just over a year out from the World T20. For New Zealand, a T20I series win to go with a Test win in foreign conditions might send them home quite satisfied.

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Key to a Sri Lanka win

Sri Lanka did a lot of things right on Sunday. One was how they used Kusal Mendis, tasking him with opening the batting, where all five of his T20I fifties have now been scored from. Their finishing, courtesy of Dasun Shanaka and Isuru Udana, was of the highest order, lifting Sri Lanka to a very competitive 170+. This was without Kusal Perera or Avishka Fernando firing, which presents a world of opportunity for Sri Lanka in this match.

However, Sri Lanka’s bowling and fielding was a let down. Granted, the ball was slippery, but seasoned international cricketers should be able to execute better in key situations. Kasun Rajitha, if fortunate enough to get another chance, has to limit bowling both sides of the wicket. Dasun Shanaka, after juggling a catch to dismiss Martin Guptill, then dropped a crucial one off Ross Taylor. Lasith Malinga, who started so well, ended with 15 off the penultimate over to all but end the game. If the Sri Lankans are to level the series, they have to build better on good periods of play, given they had New Zealand in quite some trouble early in the chase on Sunday.

Key to a New Zealand win

It was vintage Ross Taylor. Powerful slog sweeps, delicate leg glances and high intensity batting gives New Zealand’s middle order a very steely look. As their middle order insurance, Taylor at five can give the top order – who were poor last time out – the freedom to go very hard right away. The question here, though, is whether the likes of Colin Munro can overcome the Malinga threat, and whether Martin Guptill and Tim Seifert can find greater fluency. With Colin de Grandhomme in fine touch, closely followed by the capable Daryl Mitchell and Mitchell Santner, New Zealand can look to win all stages of the innings.

However, despite the victory, it was far from perfect for New Zealand. Lockie Ferguson’s thumb injury has reduced their squad to just 13, which means they might stick with Seth Rance. Rance, who went for 58 in four wicketless overs on Sunday, struggled to bowl in accordance with the conditions. With a team effort needed to stem Sri Lanka’s attacking lineup, New Zealand’s lesser experienced bowlers need to work well with their more experienced options, given the likes of Tim Southee and Mitchell Santner were excellent last time out.

Pitch and conditions

The Pallekele pitch had something in it for everyone on Sunday. Turn, some bounce for the seamers and big hitting were on the menu in an exciting contest. A similar pitch is expected in this one, with a rain threat looming, too. The team who wins the toss might want to bowl first, as bowling second looked challenging with the wet ball.

Possible Playing 11

Sri Lanka shouldn’t make too many changes. One they may make is Kasun Rajitha out for another seamer – perhaps Lahiru Kamara.

Sri Lanka: 1. Kusal Mendis, 2. Kusal Perera (wk), 3. Avishka Fernando, 4. Niroshan Dickwella, 5. Shehan Jayasuriya, 6. Dasun Shanaka, 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. Isuru Udana, 9. Akila Dananjaya, 10. Lasith Malinga (c), 11. Kasun Rajitha/Lahiru Kamara

Lockie Ferguson’s injury means New Zealand might stick with Seth Rance after a tough outing. An option they do have is replacing the seamer with Todd Astle, but two legspinners in these conditions is risky.

New Zealand: 1. Martin Guptill, 2. Colin Munro, 3. Tim Seifert (wk), 4. Colin de Grandhomme, 5. Ross Taylor, 6. Daryl Mitchell, 7. Mitchell Santner, 8. Scott Kuggeleijn, 9. Seth Rance, 10. Tim Southee (c), 11. Ish Sodhi

Fantasy Cricket Prediction

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MyTeam11 (regular) Prediction: Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Mendis (c), Avishka Fernando, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor (vc), Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Isuru Udana, Lasith Malinga, Akila Dananjaya, Tim Southee

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

• Lasith Malinga is now the all-time leading wicket taker in T20Is. He is on 99 wickets.
• Ross Taylor batting at number five and six in T20Is: average: 38.18, strike rate: 131.39. His numbers are very similar in T20Is in Sri Lanka, averaging 39.28 and striking at 135.
• Sri Lanka have lost nine of their past 10 T20Is. They have also lost their past four to New Zealand.

Match Prediction

The first game was so difficult to predict. Indeed, it turned out to be a close match.

The second should also be a close one, with the chasing team perhaps to be favoured. New Zealand’s reliability might just pip Sri Lanka’s inconsistency again.

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