New Zealand will host the in-form Sri Lanka team in the first of the three games of the T20I series which begins from Saturday, December 28. Get our latest expert New Zealand vs Sri Lanka match betting tips, predictions and picks below.
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New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Information
- Venue: Mount Maunganui
- Date: Saturday, December 28
- Time: 7.15 pm local (6/\.15 am GMT or 11.45 am IST)
- How to Buy New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 1st T20 Tickets? You can get all the information about this here.
What Have The Two Teams Done Recently?
New Zealand
Following their poor performance in the T20 World Cup where New Zealand lost to Afghanistan and West Indies in the first round of the tournament, the team featured in a T20I series in Sri Lanka,
That was their only T20I series in recent times and while they looked to be struggling to get going, New Zealand managed a 1-1 scoreline there.
Sri Lanka
What’s interesting to see is that despite having reversed some of their form in cricket in the last few months, they might not be too chuffed about the way they have gone about their T20I form.
Knocked out by Bangladesh in the first round of the T20 World Cup, they fell 3-0 in the T20I series against India before edging out West Indies 2-1 at home.
That was followed by the aforementioned New Zealand series at home for them in which they were held them to a 1-1 draw.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head Stats
- Overall New Zealand vs Sri Lanka T20I Head-to-Head: New Zealand have a strong 14-8 lead over Sri Lanka in T20I cricket with two matches tied. Both the ties were won in a Super Over by Sri Lanka.
- In New Zealand, the hosts are 6-1 ahead with one game tied that Sri Lanka won.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Preview & Predictions with Latest Odds*
New Zealand have changed a few things around obviously given a change in venue with Mumbai Indians player Bevon Jacobs coming into the squad as he looks to carry on from small sample size of domestic performances in which he has a strike-rate of 188.
Also making it to the team is seamer Zakary Foulkes, wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay and Tim Robinson, who bats at the top. In bringing a young crop of players, New Zealand are probably signalling their intention to begin their rebuilding.
What makes things that much more difficult for New Zealand is they are without the likes of Lockie Ferguson, Finn Allen, Adam Milne, Tim Seifert, Kane Williamson and Devon Conway. They will also be without their main coach Gary Stead who is on a break.
The Charith Asalanka-led Sri Lanka will look to take advantage of this situation, especially now that they have a few fast bowlers of their own. Still, their success will rely on how their top-order goes.
Aslanka himself can get the score moving but will be dependent on how Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka get going.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s form will be key with the ball, with supporting roles from his fellow tweaker Maheesh Theekshana and seamer Matheesha Pathirana.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Match Winner
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Top Batsman
- Top New Zealand Batter – Daryll Mitchell: 4/1 (sign up with Dafabet in India & bet365 in the UK & Australia)
- Top Sri Lanka Batter – Kusal Mendis: 4/1
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Top Bowler
- Top New Zealand Bowler – Matt Henry: 3/1 (sign up with 10Cric in India & bet365 in the UK & Australia)
- Top Sri Lanka Bowler – Matheesha Pathirana: 16/5
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Toss Prediction
- Sri Lanka to win the toss: 10/11
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Other Predictions
- Team of Top Batter – New Zealand: 4/6
*odds correct at the time of writing.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Squads
New Zealand T20I Squad: Mitchell Santner (captain), Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Zak Foulkes, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Mitchell Hay, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith.
Sri Lanka T20I Squad: Charith Asalanka (captain), Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando
How to Watch New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Live?
TBA
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Series Schedule
- 1st T20I: December 28 at Mount Maunganui
- 2nd T20I: December 30 at Mount Maunganui
- 3rd T20I: January 2 at Nelson
- 1st ODI: January 5 at Wellington
- 2nd ODI: January 8 at Hamilton
- 3rd ODI: January 11 at Auckland
