*SRILANKA WOMEN VS NEWZEALAND WOMEN 1st T20I IN A 3-MATCH T20 SERIES 2023 PREVIEW*
*THE BUILD UP:*
The ODI series was worth experiencing the thrills , with SL taking the final honours with 2-1 series victory. At the time when the series was tied, it was expected that a close contest is what we will have but much to our disappointment, the Lankans brushed past NZ and carrying this momentum into the T20 series, will be the favourites. The pitch that will be used has favoured spin bowling which gives the Lankans an edge already and the captain that flips the coin right, is most likely to bat first and put a good first innings total on board due to how slow the surface is bound to become in the second half. There is no possibility of the rain gods greeting us like they did in the inaugural and the finale ODI so we can expect a full 40 over clash, which will give us a fair result.
*SL PROBABLE XI:*
Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (c & wk), Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani, Hasini Perera, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Inoka Ranaweera, Udeshika Prabodhani, and Sugandika Kumari
Athapaththu has been integral to the success of Srilanka Women over the years and holds the edge to make it big once again. She accumulated 248 runs in the series that just concluded and has the right form backing her. Her experience and her staggering record at home and in this format will most certainly be a huge asset for SL and a big threat which the Kiwis will have to deal with.
For the bowling, spinner Ranasinghe will certainly be the number one option, as she has not only picked up 8 wickets in her last 10 T20I matches (ER of 7.98 could be better), but was solid in the ODI series with 4/122. The Blackcap Women will aim at handling her better than what they did in the ODI series but she’d be pumped at having a go at them.
*NZL PROBABLE XI:*
Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Maddy Green, Georgia Plimmer, Bernadine Bezuidenhout (wk), Leigh kasperek, Lea Tahuhu, Hannah Rowe, Molly Penfold, and Fran Jonas
Much will be on Amelia Kerr’s shoulders in these upcoming matches, as she’s been excellent in her last 10 T20I matches with 308 runs and an average of 44.00.
The Kiwi pacer Tahuhu, despite the conditions not being entirely in her favour was excellent in the ODI series and even in her last 8 games, has had the form backing her with 16 T20I wickets up her sleeves. She has been improving ever since and has been too hot to handle. Her breathtaking spells will challenge the Lankan batters and her matchup with their premier batter Athapaththu will be one to keep a close tab on.
*MY PREDICTIONS:*
*FOR SL:*
Highest run getter- Chamari Athapaththu/ Samarawickrama
Highest wicket taker- RanaSinghe/Ranaweera
*FOR NZL:*
Highest run getter- Amelia Kerr/Suzie Bates
Highest wicket taker- Tahuhu/Hannah Rowe
*FOR THE GAME:*
NZ to win