New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka, 1st T20I: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

New Zealand have outclassed Sri Lanka over the course of two Tests and a five-match ODI series and will seek to complete the hat-trick when the sides meet shortly for two Twenty20 Internationals.

But can Sri Lanka fight back in their strongest format and end what has been a disappointing tour on something of a high note?

Let's take a look at how the sides are shaping up ahead of the first T20, which takes place at the picturesque Bay Oval ground in Mount Maunganui on Thursday.

Date: Thursday, January 7, 2016

Time: 3 p.m. local (10 p.m. GMT, January 4)

Venue: Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand

Live Stream and TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), Sky Sport (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa), NowTV (UK, subscription required), Willow TV (U.S., subscription required)

Weather: According to the Accuweather.com, a morning downpour should have safely passed on by match time allowing the game to be contested in a mix of clouds and sunshine.

Overview

According to the ICC rankings, Sri Lanka are currently the No. 1 side in T20 cricket, but they've looked anything like world-beaters on their tour of New Zealand.

MICHAEL BRADLEY/Getty Images

Comprehensive defeats in both Tests segued to a comprehensive 3-1 defeat in the ODI series, and so far their entire tour has yielded just a single win.

That said, things have looked slightly better of late with a crop of youngsters beginning to emerge from the lengthy shadow of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

Dushmantha Chameera (see below) has shown promise with his raw, hostile pace, and Danushka Gunathilaka has displayed some clean-striking ability at the top of his order.

But to be competitive, the Sri Lankans will need big contributions from hugely experienced veterans like Angelo Mathews and Tillakaratne Dilshan, who owe their side some performances after quiet ODI series.

With Lasith Malinga ruled out a few weeks ago due to a knee injury, Dinesh Chandimal will retake the reins after the wild-haired paceman replaced him as skipper in 2014.

New Zealand are ranked eighth in the world in T20 cricket, seven places below their visitors, but given their recent form, they will enter this series as favourites.

A.M.Ahad/Associated Press

True, they'll be without big guns Brendon McCullum (soon to be retired) and Tim Southee (injured), but their squad has been buoyed by the return of a couple of fan favourites.

Grant Elliott, one of the heroes from the 2015 World Cup, returns after breaking his wrist in November and will add much-needed nous and experience to the middle order.

While all-rounder Corey Anderson, who blasted on to the international scene with a 36-ball ton in 2014, has recovered from a stress-related back injury and will play as a batsman.

In McCullum's absence, Kane Williamson will be calling the shots and looking to assert his authority with the T20 World Cup just a couple of months away.

Head-to-head record

These two sides have contested 13 T20Is, with the Sri Lankans holding a 6-5 advantage from the completed fixtures.

Their last meeting was at Chittagong in 2014, where the Asian side ran out comfortable 59-run victors, thanks to Rangana Herath's five-wicket haul, in what was a T20 World Cup group clash.

Squads

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (capt), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi (wk), Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Matt Hendy, Ross Taylor

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (capt/wk), Dushmantha Chameera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Danushka Gunathilaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Milinda Siriwardana, Isuru Udana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Kithuruwan Vithanage 

Key Players

New Zealand

The Sri Lankans will be sick of the sight of Martin Guptill, who gave them plenty of tap in the recent ODI series. With 331 runs in his last five white-ball innings, including one ton and two half-centuries, the belligerent opener is in fine fettle and will be licking his lips at dining out on the visitor's bowling once more.

MICHAEL BRADLEY/Getty Images

Sri Lanka

One of the most exciting prospects in world cricket, Chameera, has been one of the few bright spots for Sri Lanka in New Zealand. Bowling with genuine pace and hostility, the 23-year-old is still raw, but when he gets it right, as he did in the Hamilton Test where he claimed match figures of nine for 115, he's difficult to handle.

Who will win?

Despite Sri Lanka's desperation to end their tour strongly, with a wealth of in-form big-hitting batsmen and a skillful seam attack operating in home conditions, the Black Caps will take some beating here.