On Friday, January 9, Pakistan will square off against Sri Lanka in the 2nd T20I of the three-match series. It will be a series-decider, and the Men in Green will clinch the series after a win in the upcoming game. Notably, the Agha Salman-led side won the curtain raiser comfortably and handed the Island Nation a six-wicket defeat.
There were rain threats before the game, and Dambulla did witness a heavy downpour before the match. However, the rain gods listened to the fans’ prayers, and the entire match went smoothly without any rain interruption.
Sri Lanka, nonetheless, is famous for its rain, and rain threat looms for the 2nd T20I as well. Therefore, this article will shed light on the pitch + weather report for the 2nd T20I.
Dambulla Stadium, Sri Lanka Weather Report for PAK vs SL 2nd T20I
Criteria
Details
Temperature
20°
Wind
NE 26 km/h
Probability of Precipitation
90%
Cloud Cover
100%
According to Accuweather, rain threat looms over Dambulla International Stadium. The temperature will range around 20°C and wind flowing at 26 km/h. However, the probability of precipitation is 90%.
Rain will interrupt the play for 2nd T20I as there will be a 100% cloud cover as well. Notably, two hours of rain is predicted and the fans can expect light showers in regular interval. Therefore, it is highly likely that few overs might be lost and it will be a rain-reduced game.
Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium Pitch Report for PAK vs SL 2nd T20I
Criteria
Details
Matches played
10
Matches won by team batting first
6
Matches won by team bowling first
4
NR/Tied
0
Average score batting first
124
Average score bowling first
118
% of wickets by pacers
53.48
% of wickets by spinners
46.51
The surface at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium will get more difficult for the batters. Due to rain and cloud cover, the seamers will come into play and get the early swing that will trouble the top-order.
Further, it will be a used strip and uneven bounce can also trouble the batters. In a nutshell, seamers will be effective early on and spinners will come into play during the middle-overs. Therefore, similar to the first T20I, fans can expect a low-scoring thriller.
So far, Dambulla has hosted ten T20Is, with teams batting first winning six encounters. The average batting first score stands at 124 and average bowling first stands at 118, which indicates a competitive and challenging surface.
Conclusion
Despite the team batting first winning on six-occasions, team which wins the toss should look to field first because of the weather condition as well. Since, rain interruption is likely, the team which bats second will have the better idea of conditions and the target, which will benefit them in case of DLS.
Irrespective of the wicket, Pakistan showed it in the first T20I that team bowling first can also be dangerous and lethal at the Dambulla stadium. Sri Lanka, despite being the hosts, were clueless and all it took was disciplined bowling.
Dambulla Stadium - (Source:X.Com)
