MATCH REPORT: Asalanka knock seals four-wicket (NZ vs SL) Sri Lanka win over New Zealand
NZ vs SL 1st T20I – SCORECARD
MATCH PREVIEW
Sri Lanka hopes to maintain its purple patch at home with a two-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand starting Saturday — but rains may force the host to keep its formidable spin attack on standby.
Charith Asalanka’s men are riding high with victories in 11 of their 14 bilateral series this year — including nine out of the last 10 on home soil.
This year’s home success has hinged on Sri Lanka’s spinners, but Asalanka said forecast rains in Dambulla could force a strategic rethink.
“The rain will likely come into play,” Asalanka told reporters on Friday.
“Our strength has always been spin, but if this weather sticks around, we might have to bring in an extra seamer instead,” he added.
Sri Lanka has seen ferocious rains in recent weeks, bringing floods that forced school closures in the capital Colombo and also disrupting all three one-day matches against the West Indies last month in Pallekele.
WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH LIVE
The second ODI between Sri Lanka and New Zealand will be not be telecast live in India. However, the live stream of the match will be available on the FanCode app and website. The match begins at 3:30 PM IST.