The 2-match T20I series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand has already commenced on November 09 (Saturday) at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
The Lions and the Black Caps have started their campaign on a thumping note marked by their outstanding performance in their previous series. Sri Lanka’s massive triumph over West Indies by 2-0 in both ODIs and T20Is highlights their team’s strength and versatility. Whereas, the Black Caps headed into the series with a historic 3-0 whitewash against India in the test series.
However, the Kiwis need to play with a cautious approach after losing the series opener match to the Lions by 4 wickets. Moreover, New Zealand previously lost the test series with a clean sweep of 0-2 in Sri Lanka. Perhaps, this loss has been one of the main reasons to bounce back with a tremendous victory on Indian soil.
Charith Asalanka and Mitchell Santner’s tactical approach and leadership skills will be one of the fierce competitions to watch out for on the field. Particularly in the series decider of the match on November 10 (Sunday), both the team captains are expected to come up with a unique approach.
Santner’s led side will be aiming to level the series by 1-1 with the presence of talented players in the squad such as Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Phillips, and Mark Chapman. On the other hand, Asalanka would aim to seal the series with a 2-0 win with the help of these talented players namely Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Matheesha Pathirana, and Kamindu Mendis.
Ahead of the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 2nd T20I match, let’s find out the key battles between the best performers that could make the competition much more intriguing.
1. Charith Asalanka vs Mitchell Santner: A Captain’s Clash
The strategic battle between both team skippers Charith Asalanka and Mitchell Santner promises to entertain the audience with adrenaline-pumping moments.
Asalanka’s flexibility to adapt according to different situations and his composed attitude is reckoned to be a huge boon for Sri Lanka. Whereas, Santner’s dual abilities as an orthodox spinner and left-handed lower-order batter add considerable depth to the batting and bowling line-up.
Most importantly, the Sri Lankan captain’s 28-ball-35 run knock including 1 four and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 125.00, played a crucial role in assisting his team in a successful run chase by scoring 140-6 in 19 overs.
Apart from captaincy, both these all-rounders can deliver an impactful performance with both bat and ball, thereby increasing the competitive nature of the match.
2. Pathum Nissanka vs Ish Sodhi: Dominance of Opener vs Veteran Spinner
Sri Lankan opening batter Pathum Nissanka’s agile footwork and power-hitting skills could be challenged by Ish Sodhi’s huge variations. If the right-handed batter continues to bat in the middle overs, he could find himself in an intense battle with Sodhi.
Nissanka, an expert at tackling against spin, must find his peak form against Ish’s unpredictable deliveries, which makes the clash tactics-based.
3. Kusal Mendis vs Lockie Ferguson: Power Hitter vs Aggressive Pacer
As a reliable opening batter, Kusal Mendis’s experience can be valuable to his team due to his excellent shot selection and execution. Although he can tackle the pace, Lockie Ferguson’s presence guarantees the New Zealand team to have one of the most explosive fast bowlers.
With a huge bounce and lightning-speed deliveries, Ferguson can conclude a well-settled batter’s innings with short balls combined with a blistering pace. This makes the contest more intense between Kusal and Lockie in the first six overs of the powerplay.
4. Kamindu Mendis vs Glenn Phillips: A Riveting Contest Between the Spin Bowling All-rounders
Sri Lanka’s all-rounder Kamindu Mendis can stabilize the team’s middle-order batting line-up by making consistent contributions. Also, he can prove to be a backup for core spin bowlers in the squad.
However, Glenn Phillips with his hard-hitting batting style and ability to accumulate runs against spinners poses a huge challenge to Kamindu Mendis.
It is a real test between these two talented all-rounders that guarantees to provide an edge-of-the-seat thriller moments during the match.
5. Matheesha Pathirana vs Will Young: Speed vs Consistency
At the young age of 21 years, Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana secured his spot in the team for delivering toe-crushing yorkers at an aggressive pace. To add spice to the battle, the New Zealand opening batter Will Young might be targeted either in the powerplay or death overs. At the same time, Young who is an expert in counter-attack pace should maintain a healthy strike rate. This could prove to be one of the main strategies to tackle Pathirana’s ferocious bowling attack