Sri Lanka have played two Tests and five ODIs on their tour of New Zealand so far and all that is left for them before they get the plane home are two T20 matches, the first of which is being played on Thursday.
Usually these matches at the end of a tour might carry little significance or even importance but with Sri Lanka a couple of months away from beginning the defence of their World T20 title and New Zealand looking to build some momentum without Brendon McCullum maybe these two matches will be the two most competitive ones of the tour.
New Zealand have flattered to deceive in this format of the game in recent times and now they begin a new era. Brendon McCullum is quitting international cricket prior to the World T20 much to the surprise of most so Kane Williamson takes over the captaincy of a fairly young Kiwi side.
Corey Anderson returns for this series albeit as a batsman only after only just recovering from a back injury. McCullum wasn’t named in the squad before he left the recent ODI series injured so Williamson could open the batting. Tim Southee also remains on the sidelines.
Sri Lanka have been an extremely effective side in the 20 over environment for a while but whether they can continue that effectiveness in these conditions remains to be seen. They will look to find some settled form to take to India with them.
Often Sri Lanka’s success in this game comes through the benefit of having four reliable Lasith Malinga overs up their sleeves so they will need to find something to make up for his absence. Thisara Perera could have a key role to play in the match.
New Zealand are the strong odds on favourites for this match and given what has taken place in the previous matches between these two sides on this tour so far you would say that is fair enough but they are still too short given that they begin a new era here and by the sheer nature of the format.
I can’t back anyone at a price like that in New Zealand’s situation but I’m not sure I fancy Sri Lanka all that strongly without Malinga so I’ll leave the match betting alone and head for the sixes where I’m not sure the line is big enough at 11.5.
We saw a dozen sixes here at Mount Maunganui in the ODI earlier in the week and so I’m expecting at least that many in this form of the game. New Zealand have plenty of power in their line up while Sri Lanka have more than enough big hitters and with only 20 overs to bat they can go more gung ho in this format so all things being equal we should get at least a dozen sixes again in this one.
Back Over 11.5 sixes for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with William Hill
Blog cricket YTD: -4.8pts
