SL vs NZ: Sri Lanka prepares for rain-soaked T20 showdown with New Zealand

Relentless downpours washed out Sri Lanka’s training session on Friday and New Zealand’s evening practice also looked in doubt, with the ground completely under covers.

Sri Lanka’s captain Charith Asalanka speaks with his New Zealand counterpart Mitchell Santner at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla on the eve of their first Twenty20 international cricket match. | Photo Credit: AFP

Sri Lanka hopes to maintain its purple patch at home with a two-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand starting Saturday -- but rains may force the host to keep its formidable spin attack on standby.

Charith Asalanka’s men are riding high with victories in 11 of their 14 bilateral series this year -- including nine out of the last 10 on home soil.

This year’s home success has hinged on Sri Lanka’s spinners, but Asalanka said forecast rains in Dambulla could force a strategic rethink.

“The rain will likely come into play,” Asalanka told reporters on Friday.

“Our strength has always been spin, but if this weather sticks around, we might have to bring in an extra seamer instead,” he added.

Sri Lanka has seen ferocious rains in recent weeks, bringing floods that forced school closures in the capital Colombo and also disrupting all three one-day matches against the West Indies last month in Pallekele.

Relentless downpours washed out Sri Lanka’s training session on Friday and New Zealand’s evening practice also looked in doubt, with the ground completely under covers.

Dambulla will host two T20 matches on Saturday and Sunday before a three-match ODI series beginning in the same city next Wednesday.

New Zealand was routed 2-0 in the Test leg of its Sri Lankan tour last month.

But it bounced back in style, making history by sweeping a three-match Test series in India that gave the host its first series loss at home in more than a decade.

Several key players from that series including Tom Blundell, Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee have returned home to rest ahead of their upcoming three-match Test series against England.

Also missing is former captain Kane Williamson, who skipped the India Tests due to injury.

Mitchell Santner will captain a refreshed New Zealand side in their absence.

“With the packed schedule, some of the boys felt it was best to head home and prepare for the England series. We have plenty of white-ball cricket ahead, and it’s a chance to give some fresh faces a go,” Santner said.

SQUADS

Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Binura Fernando, Asitha Fernando.

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Mitch Hay (wk), Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, Will Young.