After the Test series between the two teams were drawn, New Zealand and Sri Lanka played the first T20I at Kandy on Sunday, which the visitors won by a margin of 5 wickets. Ross Taylor and Colin de Grandhomme led the chase for the Kiwis as the target of 175 was chased down with ease.
Kusal Mendis had earlier starred for the home team, as he scored 79 runs, which helped the home team put on 174 for 4 in the first innings.
Weather Conditions: Conditions at Kandy will be ideal for cricket with very little chances of rain. The temperature will hover around the 25-degree mark, with light breeze blowing across the stadium as well.
Pitch Conditions: The track here is a high-scoring one, as we witnessed in the first game where 175 was easily chased down. The pitch here offers good and true bounce, which makes chasing here the preferred option.
Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka could make a few changes for the second game, with Avishka Fernando and Kasun Rajitha making way for Danushka Gunathilaka and Lahiru Madushanka.
Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera (wk), Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Shehan Jayasuriya, Lahiru Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Malinga (c)
New Zealand:
Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the series with a broken thumb, which means that only 13 Kiwi players are available for selection for this game. We, however, expect an unchanged team
After the Test series between the two teams were drawn, New Zealand and Sri Lanka played the first T20I at Kandy on Sunday, which the visitors won by a margin of 5 wickets. Ross Taylor and Colin de Grandhomme led the chase for the Kiwis as the target of 175 was chased down with ease.
Kusal Mendis had earlier starred for the home team, as he scored 79 runs, which helped the home team put on 174 for 4 in the first innings.
Weather Conditions: Conditions at Kandy will be ideal for cricket with very little chances of rain. The temperature will hover around the 25-degree mark, with light breeze blowing across the stadium as well.
Pitch Conditions: The track here is a high-scoring one, as we witnessed in the first game where 175 was easily chased down. The pitch here offers good and true bounce, which makes chasing here the preferred option.
Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka could make a few changes for the second game, with Avishka Fernando and Kasun Rajitha making way for Danushka Gunathilaka and Lahiru Madushanka.
Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera (wk), Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, Shehan Jayasuriya, Lahiru Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Malinga (c)
New Zealand:
Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the series with a broken thumb, which means that only 13 Kiwi players are available for selection for this game. We, however, expect an unchanged team to play the second game as the Kiwis look for a series win.
Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Ross Taylor, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Seth Rance, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee (c), Ish Sodhi
Top Picks:
Wicket-keeper: Tim Seifert (8.5 credits)
Tim Seifert had a good game last time around, outscoring the two Sri Lankans - Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Perera. While Perera has been inconsistent in the format, Dickwella is yet to leave his mark in T20Is. Seifert, on the other hand, also costs only 8.5 credits, which allows us to pick the other big names.
Batsman: Ross Taylor (9.5 credits)
Taylor was the Man of the Match in the last game, and he will be eager to raise his hand up yet again in the absence of regular captain Kane Williamson. Taylor had struck an unbeaten fifty in the practise match earlier to continue his good run of form over the last few months.
All-rounder: Colin de Grandhomme (9 credits)
The all-rounder made 44 from 28 balls in the first game, and stitched together a match-winning partnership with Ross Taylor. Of late, de Grandhomme has been consistent with the ball as well, which makes him a match-winner in both departments.
Bowler: Lasith Malinga (9.5 credits)
Lasith Malinga got two wickets in the last game and overhauled Shahid Afridi's wicket tally of 98 T20I wickets to become the highest wicket-taker in the format. He is just one wicket away from becoming the only bowler with 100 wickets in the format, and he will be eager to achieve the feat.
Captain: Lasith Malinga, Ross Taylor
