Sri Lanka vs West Indies Match Preview, 1st T20I
Sri Lanka take on West Indies in a three-match T20I series in Dambulla.
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Sri Lanka and the West Indies square off in a three-match T20I series at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla. The first T20I is scheduled to be played on Sunday, October 13.
Sri Lanka have not been in great form in the shortest format of the game of late. They crashed out of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the first round itself after suffering defeats against South Africa and Bangladesh. Their only win in the tournament came against the Netherlands.
Sri Lanka went on to play a three-match T20I series at home against a new-look Team India and lost all the matches. Charith Asalanka didn't have the best of starts to his captaincy tenure in white-ball cricket. He will be expecting more grit and determination from his side against the West Indies.
Meanwhile, the West Indies have been on a resurgence in the T20 format after flattering to deceive in recent years. They won five out of the seven matches they played in the T20 World Cup but couldn't reach the semi-finals.
They recently played three T20I against South Africa in Tarouba, Trinidad and won all of them. Confidence must have skyrocketed for the Caribbean side after their comprehensive performance against the Proteas, and they would want to build on it in the Island Nation.
Also Check: Sri Lanka vs West Indies 2024 Schedule
Match Details
| Match | Sri Lanka West Indies, 1st T20I, West Indies tour of Sri Lanka 2024 |
| Venue | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla |
| Date & Time | October 13, Sunday, 7 pm IST |
| Live Broadcast & Streaming Details | FanCode (app and website), Sony Sports Network (TV) |
Also Check: Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 1st T20I - Live Cricket Score
Pitch Report
Three T20Is have been played so far at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla. All three games were won by teams batting first. The average first innings score is 188 and the highest first innings score is 209. The pitch is expected to be a belter and the batters on both sides will enjoy themselves in the middle. Bowlers will have to come out with solid plans to restrict the destructive batters.
Head-To-Head Records
| Matches | 15 |
| Won by Sri Lanka | 08 |
| Won by West Indies | 07 |
| Draw | - |
| No Result | - |
| First-ever Fixture | June 10, 2009 |
| Most-recent Fixture | November 4, 2021 |
Predicted Playing XI
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have dropped former captain Dasun Shanaka for this series. Meanwhile, the destructive Bhanuka Rajapaksa made his way back into the side for the first time since January 2023. The talismanic Wanindu Hasaranga has recovered from injury and will be raring to go. He will be leading a strong Sri Lankan spin attack, comprising the likes of Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, and Dunith Wellalage. Meanwhile, Kamindu Mendis will want to carry his stunning red-ball form into the white-ball arena.
Predicted XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana
West Indies
Senior players like Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell, and Akeal Hosein have opted out of the series. Their absence gives opportunities to a few youngsters who will be eager to make a mark on the international stage. Rovman Powell will lead the side which has a fine mix of youth and experience. Spin-bowling all-rounders like Roston Chase and Fabian Allen are expected to play important roles in the sub-continental conditions. Alzarri Joseph is going to spearhead the seam-bowling attack, while the in-form Gudakesh Motie will want to stifle the Sri Lankan batters through the middle overs.
Predicted XI: Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Shai Hope (wk), Rovman Powell (c), Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Fabian Allen, Romario Shepherd, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph
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