West Indies vs Sri Lanka 2021, 2nd T20I: Match Preview And Prediction

On Friday (5th March) night, the hosts West Indies will meet against the visitors Sri Lanka in the second game of the three-match T20I series at Coolidge Cricket Ground (Antigua).

West Indies are leading this T20I series by 1-0 after winning the series opener by 4 wickets. After restricting Sri Lanka to 131/9 (20 overs) in the first innings, West Indies chased down that target in 13.1 overs after losing six wickets.

West Indies vs Sri Lanka 2021, 2nd T20I: Match Preview

West Indies

West Indies have started this T20I series with a good victory. The two-time T20 World Cup champions will try their best to secure this home T20I series by winning the forthcoming match.

Captain Kieron Pollard became the hero of the previous game as he scored 38 off 11 balls, including six sixes in the over of Akila Dananjaya. Pollard became the third batsman in international cricket history and the second batsman in T20I history to smash six sixes in an over.

While openers Lendl Simmons (26 off 15 balls) and Evin Lewis (28 off 10 balls) started in the firing ways, Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran scored golden ducks in that chase. Jason Holder (29 not out off 24 balls) controlled the game in the end and secured the comfortable series-leading victory.

Like their chasing, West Indies showed complete team game in their bowling too. The Caribbean bowlers were always in control which helped to get the wickets in crucial times and restricted their opponents to a cheap total.

Full Squad

Kieron Pollard (C), Nicholas Pooran (vc), Fabien Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Rovman Powell, Lendl Simmons, Kevin Sinclair.

Recent T20I forms (Older to Newer): Lost, Lost, No Result and Won

Sri Lanka

In the absence of Dasun Shanaka, Angelo Mathews is leading the Sri Lankan T20I side, who suffered a defeat in this T20I series opener.

Though the opener Niroshan Dickwella (33) and the no.3 batsman Pathum Nissanka (39) provided a strong start, the other batsmen failed to utilise it as no other batsmen managed to reach the 20-run mark in that innings.

Defending 131 runs was not easy for them against the Caribbean batters, but Akila Dananjaya’s hat-trick (dismissed Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran) brought them back into the game. But soon Pollard hit him for six sixes in his next over. Though Wanindu Hasaranga also fought hard and got three wickets in his 4-over quota (3/12), it was not enough for the Sri Lankan team.

Full Squad

Angelo Mathews (C), Dimuth Karunaratne, Danushka Gunathilake, Pathum Nissanka, Ashen Bandara, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Thisara Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananajaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilshan Madushanka, Suranga Lakmal.

Recent T20I forms (Older to Newer): Lost

West Indies vs Sri Lanka 2021, 2nd T20I: Match Prediction

The hosts West Indies are really strong T20I while the visitors Sri Lanka have much to prove as a team. So, the hosts are favourite for the second game of this T20I series.