Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand in the opening match of the ICC World Twenty20 2010 at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. Led by Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lankan batting in filled up with a couple of dangerous strikers of the ball in veteran Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillakaratne Dilshan. The middle order will be held together by the duo of Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene along with youngsters - Kapugedera, Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal. Its the bowling trio of Malinga, Murali and Mendis who will be holding the key for the Lankans.
New Zealand, Sri Lanka's opponents for the day in this Group B encounter are a perfect unit when it comes to T20 cricket and seem to be the favourites for the day. Brendon McCullum will be the man leading from the top and if he can bat for some length then the Kiwis will be on track in any situation. Ryder, Guptill and Ross Taylor are all good strikers of the ball and with the experience of Styris and Oram, the Kiwis are looking a better side. The Black Caps are playing two spinners in Skipper Vettori and Nathan McCullum considering that the pitches in the West Indies tend to be on the slower side.
The pitch at the Providence Stadium is expected to be responsive to spinners and the ball may not be coming onto the bat for all those through the line big shots.
New Zealand Playing XI : Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Sscott Styris, Gareth Hopkins (WK), Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori (C), Nathan McCullum, Shane Bond and Tim Southee
Sri Lanka Playing XI : Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kuamr Sangakkara (C&WK), Sanath Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Lasith Malinga, M Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Chanaka Welegedara
