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New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Predictions - Mitchell to power NZ to early series win over Sri Lankans

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 29 Dec 2024

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Simon Lewis 29 Dec 2024

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Daryl Mitchell’s 62 off 42 balls set up NZ’s win over Sri Lanka in the 1st T20I.
Pathum Nissanka scored a brilliant 90 off 60 balls in the 1st T20I.
Sri Lankan have lost two T20Is on the bounce against New Zealand.

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Daryl Mitchell hits out against Sri Lanka in the 1st T20I. (credit: Phil Walter/Getty Images)

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Predictions

New Zealand have an impressive winning record, with four wins from their last five T20Is, although their top-order inconsistency is something that the Sri Lankan bowlers will be targeting.

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Predictions
Head-to-Head
New Zealand Form
New Zealand Team News
Sri Lanka Form
Sri Lanka Team News

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell has scored two 60s and two 80s in his last 8 international innings.
New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell scored 59 of 33 balls in the 1st T20I.
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka has scored 89, 31* & 90 in his last 3 innings.
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis has scored 56*, 143, 74* & 46 in his last 7 whiteball innings.

Head-to-Head

New Zealand have won four of the last five T20Is against Sri Lanka, who won one of those matches. Sri Lanka have lost the last two T20Is on the bounce.

New Zealand Form

New Zealand have won four of their last five T20Is, losing just once, although there have been some close finishes in those matches,

New Zealand scraped home by eight runs in the 1st T20I at Mount Maunganui after their top-order collapsed to 65/5. Daryl Mitchell (62 off 42 balls) and Michael Bracewell (59 off 33) kept New Zealand in the match with a sixth-wicket stand of 105.

Jacob Duffy (3/21) broke Sri Lanka’s key opening stand and knocked over three Sri Lanka wickets for no runs in a brilliant 14th over that started the collapse that saw Sri Lanka lose by eight runs.

New Zealand Team News

New Zealand are in good form despite being without some of their first-choice players, but they will be wanting their top-order to challenge for long-term places by putting some scores on the board as they look to wrap up the series early.

Sri Lanka Form

Sri Lanka have last their last two T20Is on the bounce, including the 1st T20I of their three-match series against New Zealand.

Binura Fernando (2/22) starred with the ball as Sri Lanka had New Zealand reeling at 65/5, before they recovered to post 172/9 off their 20 overs.

Pathum Nissanka (90 off 60 balls) and Kusal Mendis (46 off 36) took Sri Lanka to 121/0 in the 14th over, but a startling collapse saw them fall eight runs short of a win that looked within their grasp.

Sri Lanka Team News

Sri Lanka will want their middle-order to pitch up after failing to fire in the 1st T20I defeat. There is not a lot of squad depth, but they might look to bring in a fresh face.

Verdict

New Zealand v Sri Lanka

I am backing New Zealand to win. I am also backing Daryl Mitchell to top score for New Zealand.

Pathum Nissanka is a good bet to top score for the Sri Lanka.

New Zealand Win

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