England will host Sri Lanka in the second T20I tonight and would look to seal the series. Hosts overcame the Lankan side by 8 wickets in the first T20I.
Match Timings: June 24, 11 PM IST
Team Preview
England started their white-ball summer with an emphatic victory in Cardiff over Sri Lanka. It was an easy game for the hosts and Sri Lanka showed no effort in both departments. After losing half team on 79, Sri Lanka fought hard with the help of Shanaka who scored a well-deserving half-century. It helped Sri Lanka to get 129 on board. Adil Rashid conceded just 17 and picked two wickets. Only three batsmen reached into double digits for the visitors.
England showed no mercy on Lankan bowling as they chased it down with 17 balls spare. Openers added 80 runs for the opening wicket in 9.1 overs. Buttler scored fighting 68 off 55 balls and Roy contributed 36 off 22 balls. England is a top side and they are also looking to add more quality players to their preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. England will also eye their first white-ball series win of 2021 as they lost to India in both ODI and T20I series. England’s last white-ball series win came against South Africa in 2020. It will also be the first T20I series win for England after September 2020 when they beat Australia 2-1.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is in the rebuilding process and we saw how they struggled in the whole match. After playing the first game, they might improve their game now. One victory on this tour will give them a boost and they have the caliber to surprise the English side. Middle-order failed to deliver. If it was 150 or 160, they could have added a fight in it. It was the third loss for Sri Lanka in four matches this year and if we add white-ball matches, then Sri Lanka lost their eighth game out of ten matches. Kusal Perera has to lead from the front and Gunathalika’s role will also be important at the top.
England and Sri Lanka have played ten T20Is and England have won six matches. Five wins came out of the last six encounters which shows the downfall of the Lankan side in the last few years. England are strong favourites here.
Pitch Report
Cardiff’s surface is ideal for batting and we might expect a high-scoring game tonight. Pacers can surely take extra advantage from the pitch but we will also some spin like Rashid bowled last night. Chasing will be an ideal call after winning the toss.
Possible XI
England
Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (wk), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Eoin Morgan (c), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
Sri Lanka
Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera (c & wk), Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep
Key Players
England
Jos Buttler
Having a top-form and scored 68 in last game, his Indian T20 League form was also good
Dawid Malan
Top at the T20 rankings & leading run-getter for ENG in past one year
Sri Lanka
Wanindu Hasaranga
A top allrounder package for SL. Might be promoted up in the order, handy with his spin
Kusal Perera
A standout performer for SL in opening, 30 in last game
