Sri Lanka v West Indies 1st T20I preview: West Indies look to restore pride in the T20Is

Sri Lanka v West Indies 1st T20I preview: West Indies look to restore pride in the T20Is: Sri Lanka is on a high after whitewashing West Indies in the ODI series. Both teams will now face off each other in the T20Is beginning tomorrow. The venue would be the Pallekale International stadium at Kandy. The pitch may resemble the same as used in the final ODI.

Both captains will keep the weather in their minds. It will play a huge part tomorrow as untimely showers with thunderstorms continue to remain a threat. It would be interesting to see what the both the captains decide after the toss.

Sri Lanka is still the top-ranked T20 side in the world despite losing their last T20I series against Pakistan.

Sri Lanka

The ODI series was an easy ride for Sri Lanka with West Indies failing to challenge the home team. They will surely try to repeat their ODI series performances against a struggling West Indies.

The Lankan T20 squad indicates one thing; they have focused on youth for this series. Rookie bowlers Binura Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay and allrounder Shehan Jayasuriya have found a place in the squad.

Lasith Malinga will lead the T20I team and the bowling attack. He has the services of Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, and Dushmantha Chameera. Ajantha Mendis who had a very less impressive ODI series is not a part of the T20I squad.

West Indies:

West Indies have a lot of things to resurrect before they take the field tomorrow. Darren Sammy will lead the Windies side. Sunil Narine will have to shoulder the burden of the bowling responsibility as he is the only one who possess a little threat to the Sri Lanka batsman who have looked very comfortable against them. Jason Holder, Ravi Rampaul and Jerome Taylor are the fast bowling options available. Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo and Sammy happen to be the all rounding options West Indies have in their squad.

The West Indies batsmen must step up to the challenge to avoid getting dominated one more time in the shortest format. Johnson Charles, Johnathan Carter, Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard will be the batsmen West Indies will rely upon to face the promising Lankan bowling attack.

Squads:

Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Shehan Jayasuriya, Angelo Mathews, Milinda Siriwardana, Chamara Kapugedera, Dinesh Chandimal, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Jeffrey Vandersay, Binura Fernando, Thisara Perera

West Indies: Darren Sammy (c), Devendra Bishoo, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher (wk), Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor