New Zealand finish their tour of Sri Lanka on Friday afternoon when the two sides meet in the final T20 of the three matches in the series. New Zealand have already secured the spoils after winning the second game on Tuesday and will go in search of a whitewash here.
Sri Lanka have had their chances to win both the matches so far and will be eager to get over the line here and salvage some pride. They will feel they have offered enough to come out of the series with something to show for their efforts.
Sri Lanka
It took a real freak incident to deny Sri Lanka in the second T20. After fighting so hard they looked to have the match won and then a collision between two fielders on the boundary in the final over and the ball going for six as a result undone all their hard work and pretty much gift wrapped a victory to New Zealand. That came after the first game where they were also well in the mix until the rain came and made life difficult for them.
For probably 36 overs of both matches Sri Lanka have been pretty good so all they need to do is just tighten up their play at the end when the pressure is at its most intense. If they can do that then there is no reason why they can’t pick up the consolation victory that their efforts have probably deserved over the course of the week.
New Zealand
I don’t think too many will say that the scoreline reflects on the series from a New Zealand point of view, although they could very well argue that by holding their nerve under the intense pressure they have deserved to win both matches. There would certainly be some merit in that but I’m sure they would like a more convincing win with which to go home with and with no pressure on them here who knows it could happen.
New Zealand have batted well in both matches to their credit. They have used a lot of their batting depth to win both games but that is what it is there for at the end of the day. In an ideal world their top order will come to the party here and they will bowl better than they have done but either way they’ll be leaving with the series in the bag which is all you can ask for.
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Team News
Sri Lanka are expected to miss both men involved in that collision on Tuesday in Shehan Jayasuriya and Kusal Mendis so they will be forced into a couple of changes. Danushka Gunathilaka is expected to come in for one of them.
New Zealand have plenty of injuries to contend with themselves. Martin Guptill has gone down while Ross Taylor and Tom Bruce are carrying knocks themselves but might have to play. Hamish Rutherford comes in for Guptill.
Betting
We’re going to see a couple of changed sides here but I think the injuries that Sri Lanka have picked up will be more problematic than the switches needed to the New Zealand team. In essence, New Zealand are only switching one man for another in a like for like whereas Sri Lanka are without two of their better batsmen and have already lost both matches with them in it.
Based on all that I think the 4/5 on New Zealand completing the clean sweep here is worth taking. They have handled the pressure well whereas Sri Lanka seem to clam up in them and when you take out the experience in their side with the injuries this looks like a good chance for the Kiwis to keep up a whitewash.
Tips
Back New Zealand to beat Sri Lanka for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with William Hill
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