Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand, 2nd T20: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview

New Zealand face Sri Lanka in the final match of their limited overs tour, and there is hope of uninterrupted play after a desperate, weather-affected series.

What: Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand, 2nd Twenty20

Where: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium

When: Thursday, 21 November 2013, 13:30 GMT

Live Stream/TV info: CSN TV

Weather: Remarkably—and positively—there's hope of clear skies for the T20 encounter. Every match this series has been blighted by rain, either drastically shortened or abandoned altogether, so a full match would be a huge bonus. According to Accuweather there could be a thunderstorm in the afternoon, as one might expect during Sri Lanka's monsoon season, but thereafter the skies should clear for the evening clash.

Overview

The first match earlier this week was called off without a ball bowled, so the second T20 has become a winner-takes-all clash.

And with the ODI series finishing 1-1, there is an extra level of significance to the match.

Sri Lanka, strong in their own conditions, were expected to have the measure of New Zealand. But the Black Caps have responded well to their chastening 3-0 defeat in ODIs against Bangladesh in the past month and overcome the absence of some of their key batsmen to be competitive when they have taken the field in Sri Lanka.

New Zealand will have to cope without Jimmy Neesham—Cricinfo report that a finger injury has ruled him out of the showdown. Stand-in skipper Kyle Mills may have to call upon Adam Milne as a replacement.

Sri Lanka are looking to bow out in front of home fans with a big performance. In December they begin a spell of several months on the road, starting with a trip to the United Arab Emirates to face Pakistan, before moving on to the World T20 in Bangladesh and then a visit to England early in the summer of 2014.

Dinesh Chandimal is the stand-in skipper for the home side in Angelo Mathews' absence. 

Key Players

Sri Lanka

The bowlers will be decisive for Sri Lanka—all their expected attack have better-than-average records in Pallekele. Both seamer Lasith Malinga and spinner Ajantha Mendis have even managed five-wicket hauls in T20 internationals at this ground, and according to Cricinfo, the hosts have won six of the seven completed matches at the venue.

New Zealand

Kyle Mills will be key. The skipper has experience to draw on and will set the tone early for the visitors. If he can keep his economy rate low on a pitch which typically affords the bowlers a little assistance, then he may allow the likes of Mitchell McClenaghan to attack more freely at the other end.

Squads

Sri Lanka

Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Lasith Malinga (vice-captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Angelo Mathews, Ajanta Mendis, Kushal Perera, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Ramith Rambukwella, Kumar Sangakkara, Sachithra Senanayake, Lahiru Thirimanne 

New Zealand

Kyle Mills (captain), Corey Anderson, Anton Devcich, Grant Elliott, Andrew Ellis, Tom Latham (wk), Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Rob Nicol, Luke Ronchi, Hamish Rutherford

Prediction

Should the weather behave itself, Sri Lanka will probably have too much firepower for the Black Caps.