NZ vs SL 3rd T20I | Preview, Pitch Report, Predicted Playing XIs, Fantasy Tips & Prediction
Adam Milne bowls with Kusal Mendis at the bowler's end (Source: Twitter)
New Zealand and Sri Lanka are set to collide in match number three of their T20I series on April 8. The much-awaited Queenstown showdown is not only the decisive contest of their T20I tussle, but it also marks an end to Sri Lanka’s month-long all-format tour to New Zealand.
Earlier, hosts New Zealand had comprehensively defeated Sri Lanka in both Tests and ODIs by 2-0 margins.
The visitors came back strongly in a T20I thriller in Auckland. While the initial contest ended in a tie, the Dasun Shanaka-led side overpowered the Black Caps in the Super Over with ease.
New Zealand, under Tom Latham, responded back in their next meet-up three days later at Dunedin. They overhauled Sri Lanka’s 141-run total with more than five overs still at hand, with opener Tim Seifert smacking a 43-ball 79* at the top. Meanwhile, speedster Adam Milne snared five wickets in the game and was adjudged as ‘Player of the Match’.
Match Details
Date and Time: April 8, 06:30 AM IST
Venue: John Davies Oval, Queenstown
Live Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Pitch Report: The venue at Queenstown has not staged a men’s international game since the rain-curtailed ODI affair in January 2014. Moreover, the upcoming contest will be the first ever men’s T20I match to be played here. In a 21-over ODI match from 2014, hosts New Zealand plundered 283 upfront, with then newcomer Corey Anderson smacking the fastest ever ODI ton in history. With the venue’s run-scoring history, one can expect another high-scoring belter in the decisive T20I this weekend.
Probable Playing XIs
New Zealand: Chad Bowes, Tim Seifert, Tom Latham (c & wk), Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi and Ben Lister.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madushan, Dilshan Madushanka and Kasun Rajitha.
Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
Wicket-Keeper: Kusal Mendis
Batters: Tim Seifert, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Perera, Tom Latham
All-Rounders: Dasun Shanaka, James Neesham, Wanindu Hasaranga
Bowlers: Adam Milne, Pramod Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana
Captain: Dasun Shanaka
Vice-Captain: Tim Seifert
Prediction
New Zealand’s home advantage and their emphatic win in the previous match gives them the momentum to win the decider against Sri Lanka.
 "Aakash Saini")
