Dates, form, head-to-head, squads and more ahead of the three-match T20I series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka…
A three-match T20I series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
The first T20I is taking place at Eden Park in Auckland, with the second T20I then moving on to the University of Otago Oval in Dunedin. The series will then conclude at Sir John Davies Oval in Queenstown.
First T20I: Sunday, April 2 - Eden Park (1pm local time, 2am BST)
Second T20I: Wednesday, April 5 - University of Otago Oval, (1pm local time, 2am BST)
Third T20I: Saturday, April 8 - Sir John Davies Oval (1pm local time, 2am BST)
New Zealand head into this series on the back of a 2-1 defeat in their last series over the format, away to India. The Black Caps started the series with a 21-run win, but were comprehensively beaten in the next two matches, by six wickets and 168 runs respectively. The latter was New Zealand's largest margin of defeat in a T20I.
It is almost the same story for Sri Lanka going into these matches, having been beaten by India last time out. However, they arguably fared better, having only lost the first game of the series by two runs.
Fifties from captain Dasun Shanaka and opener Kusal Mendis were backed up by tight bowling from Kasun Rajitha to level the series, but a dominant 91-run win for India in the decider ensured a 2-1 defeat for Chris Silverwood's side.
Absent friends: Tim Southee and Kane Williamson (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
However, Sri Lanka's T20I series in India was almost three months ago, with New Zealand playing only a month later. Neither team will feel fully prepared for this shorter format, despite their recent battles against each other, in a series that will not exactly be high on their priorities.
The two teams met in the group stages of the recent men's T20 World Cup, with the Kiwis coming away with a commanding victory by 65 runs, thanks to a century from Glenn Phillips and four wickets from Trent Boult.
New Zealand will have fond memories of facing Sri Lanka at Eden Park, having won all three of these fixtures at this venue. The match between these two sides in 2014 was a record-breaking one, with Colin Munro smashing 50 not out from just 14 deliveries, marking the Black Caps' fastest T20 half-century.
This series marks the first time a men's T20I will take place at the Sir John Davies Oval, and only the third at the University of Otago Oval.
The hosts will be missing several of their high-profile players for this series, after giving them clearance to travel to India ahead for the IPL. As a result, captain Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell and Lockie Ferguson will all be absent.
This means Tom Latham, who has not played a T20I since September 2021, will come into the side as captain. Two uncapped players, Chad Bowes and Henry Shipley, have also been called up. Shipley took his maiden international five-wicket haul in the first ODI of Sri Lanka's tour. There is a recall for Jimmy Neesham, who missed the previous series in India, and this tour's ODIs due to SA20 and PSL commitments.
Angelo Mathews is back in the white-ball fold (MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP via Getty Images)
The big story from the Sri Lanka squad is the return of Angelo Mathews to the side's white-ball set-up. He last played a T20I against the West Indies over two years ago, with Kusal Perera also recalled after a year out of the team. Their returns come after a call for more senior figures in the team.
Three players could be in line to make their debut, with uncapped batters Lasith Croospulle, Nuwanidu Fernando, and Sahan Arachchige called up. All three impressed in the recent series against England Lions, especially Croospulle, who scored two centuries in the unofficial Tests, as well as a fifty in one of the List-A matches.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (c & wk), Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry, Ben Lister, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Will Young
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Lasith Croospulle, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Nuwanidu Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Matheesha Pathirana, Pramod Madushan.
New Zealand: 11
Sri Lanka: 7
Tied: 1
No result/abandoned: 2
The Black Caps are looking for a clean sweep after winning the Test and ODI series (DAVID ROWLAND/AFP via Getty Images)
There is a chance the first T20I, in Auckland, will be affected by rain, with a 40 per cent chance during the game. The temperature will sit in the low-20s.
It will be cooler for the second T20I in Dunedin, with the temperature in the mid-teens, with a slight chance of rain. The final T20I, in Queenstown, looks set to be the hottest, with sun and temperatures of 24/25 degrees Celsius.
New Zealand are far from full strength, which offers an opportunity to Sri Lanka. This will certainly make it a closer series, but the Kiwis still possess quality, which should be enough to see them over the line, especially given their home advantage.
Those wanting to catch the action in New Zealand can do so on Spark Sport.
For Sri Lanka fans, Supreme TV is the place to go to watch every ball.
BT Sport will be showing coverage of the matches in the UK.
As with all New Zealand matches, those in India can watch the series on Amazon Prime.
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