Sri Lanka vs New Zealand: Preview, Dream11 and more
Sri Lanka will be out to stop New Zealand in the second T20I to be held at Pallekelle tonight. The Lankans faced a defeat in the first match after a spirited Kiwi side romped to a five-wicket win. A loss will see Lanka lose the three-match series. A lot is at stake for both sides. Here's more.
Lanka will need to get their act right
Sri Lanka lost the plot at the death in the previous match and that's something they will be working upon. The hosts are trying to rebuild a solid T20I team ahead of the World T20 next year. Consistency will be the key factor here for the islanders. The bowling will need to rally around Lasith Malinga. Kusal Mendis leads the batting department.
Kiwis fared well under Southee's leadership
The Kiwis will be pleased with their efforts under Tim Southee's leadership. They have plenty of firepower in the ranks. Ross Taylor, in particular, holds the key in the middle order. NZ will want to get this series win and play to their strengths. Seth Rance had a dismal outing last time and he could be replaced.
Dream11: A strong side on offer
We have gone in with Colin Munro and Kusal Mendis as the opening batsmen of this Dream11 side. Wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Perera follows suit. The middle order is bolstered by Taylor (captain) and Avishka Fernando. Mitchell Santner and Colin de Grandhomme are the all-rounders. Irusu Udana, Ish Sodhi, Scott Kuggeleijn and Malinga (vice-captain) are the primary bowlers.
Venue, timing, TV listing and pitch report
The match is set to be held at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele. Cloud cover is expected after some thunderstorms in the morning. The pitch will assist pacers and spinners too had a strong show last time. The match is set to start at 7:00 PM. One can watch the match live on the Sony Ten Network.
Players to watch out for
For Lanka, their hopes will be laid on Malinga and Mendis. Both were superb in the first game. Kiwis will be hoping to see their openers fire. However, Taylor holds key to their success. Southee's leadership skills will be crucial.
