Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Prediction: Sri Lanka lead the series by 1-0

Sri Lanka and New Zealand are going head to head in the Match 2 of T20 Series at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka on 10 November, 2024. Sri Lanka lead the series by 1-0. Who will win this game of cricket?

Sri Lanka continued to do well on their home conditions, as they had successfully won the Test Series over New Zealand by 2-0. The same New Zealand team that has defeated India 3-0 in India for the first time in Test Cricket history, had been defeated by Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka had won the first T20I of the series and thus triumphed over three successive T20Is.

In the first match Sri Lanka came in first and managed to take early wickets, having New Zealand at 31 for 3 at the end of power play, thus putting constant pressure all throughout the game and taking wickets regularly, ultimately restricting New Zealand to a paltry total of 135 runs at the end of their innings. Even though Sri Lanka allowed a few runs in the last overs, they still strangulated New Zealand. Dunith Wellalage and Thushara, Pathirana, and Hasaranga each took 2 wickets.

Sri Lanka was playing a very cautious innings, faced with a tame target. Kusal Mendis lost early, but there was an unbeaten 35 by Charith Asalanka who helped win with four wickets and one over remaining. Sri Lanka seems in the driver's seat here and is likely to win the series in the last match.

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara

The shocking defeat of the first T20I at the hands of Sri Lanka must have come like a bolt out of blue to New Zealand. Even when New Zealand had just defeated India recently for the very first time in history, their defeat came as a shock to the cricketing world in Sri Lanka. Losing the two-test series 0-2, New Zealand's fortunes did not look bright for them even when they entered the first T20 as they were outplayed by the home side both batting and bowling.

After New Zealand won the toss in perfect conditions, they decided to bat, while losing wickets one after another. By the 12th over, 67 for 6 was the score at the end of that. They had held on to reach 135 till the end of the 20th over as Michael Bracewell and Zakary Foulkes scored 27 runs each which gave something to the bowlers of the opponent's side to defend.

After Santner gave New Zealand a breakthrough early on, Sri Lanka chased down the target comfortably with six wickets in hand and an over to spare. Zakary Foulkes was New Zealand's prime bowler, taking 3 wickets for 20 runs. New Zealand has had a dodgy wicket against Sri Lanka's excellent attack, bringing into doubt their ability to win and keeping the series alive.

Tim Robinson, Will Young, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitch Hay (wk), Josh Clarkson, Mitchell Santner (c), Ish Sodhi, Zakary Foulkes, Jacob Duffy

Sri Lanka's bowling heavily dominated their game at home to get a win in the first T20I against New Zealand. Batting was still some sort of problem, but their deep batting lineup bailed them out at the end. At the same time, New Zealand seems to have problems in both batting and bowling departments. Their main batsman did not score a single run for his team, and their bowling was not effective as well. Hence, we would expect that Sri Lanka will win the next match against New Zealand and win the series as well.