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Following a two-match Test series and a three-game One Day International series, Sri Lanka finish their tour of New Zealand with a trio of T20 internationals which started on Sunday, April 2 at Eden Park, Auckland.
The second contest will take place at University Oval, Dunedin on Wednesday, April 5 with the final game at Queenstown on Saturday, April 8.
New Zealand have been in barren form in their most recent T20 internationals winning just two of their last eight matches in the format. There most recent series saw them lose a three-game match-up against India 2-1 away from home. New Zealand are currently ranked fifth in the world in the format.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have just two wins in their last six matches. Their latest outing was also against India away from home which they lost 2-1. Sri Lanka currently sit eighth in the T20 world rankings. New Zealand are 8/15 favourites for the contest over a 6/4 priced Sri Lanka.
The first meeting was a thrilling affair that ended in a tie. Charith Asalanka was the player of the match, scoring 67 runs as Sri Lanka set a target of 196. Daryl Mitchell top scored with 66 in reply, with James Neesham (NZ) and Dasun Shanaka (SL) taking the best figures in the contest.
New Zealand go into the series without their three top batters in the format: Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips and Finn Allen. Mitchell (15/4 in the NZ Top Batter market) leads the betting and has scored three 50s in his last seven appearances.
He is followed by Chad Bowes (9/2) who is making his debut in the format this series. The top order batter averages 29.83 in 85 matches in the T20 format with a sublime strike rate of 138.75. He missed out in the first game scoring just two runs.
Leading the Sri Lankan charge is world #13 batter Pathum Nissanka (7/2, SL Top Batter). The SL man has enjoyed four 50s in his last 14 T20 internationals but did struggle for form in their latest series scoring just 49 runs in three games. He also fell for a first ball duck in the first game.
Asalanka (6/1) and Kusal Mendis (7/2) are the next best in terms of world rankings for the visitors. Asalanka had failed to reach 50 in his last 19 matches prior to his 67 in the first contest, while Mendis has three 50s in 10 matches.
Perhaps Sri Lanka's best bet in the series is to rely on their bowling attack headed by leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga (11/4, SL Top Bowler) who is currently the world's #2 bowler. Hasaranga has 11 wickets in his last six games and 19 in his last 10. He took 2-30 in the first T20.
Fellow spinner Maheesh Theekshana (3/1) is another to consider in the SL Top Bowler market based on his #13 world ranking. However, Theekshana has just four wickets in his last eight matches, many of those in similar conditions he'll likely face in New Zealand.
NZ have left out their highest ranked T20 bowlers Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Mitchell Santner. Adam Milne leads the betting (3/1, NZ Top Bowler), however he has just eight wickets in his last eight matches
