Rain has been the dominant factor in the limited-overs series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand so far. However, for probably the first time in the series, there is no rain forecast for the final match of the tour - the second T20 in Pallekele.
Where to Watch Live
The match is scheduled for a 7 pm IST start with live coverage on Ten Cricket in India. No official Live Streaming options are available.
Overview
The first T20I was abandoned due to rain leaving both sides disappointed as they look to find the right balance ahead of the WorldT20 in Bangladesh in a few months' time.
Win or lose, both Sri Lanka and New Zealand will just be happy to get a full game in, and if the weather bureau is to be believed, that just might be possible on Thursday evening.
Neither teams will be keen on making too many experimental changes, but Dinesh Chandimal, under pressure to prove himself as captain, did hint he could give Kusal Perera a chance in the first XI.
"Kusal Perera is immensely talented," Chandimal said. "He can win a game on his own, but he needs to get more experience. He had done well in domestic cricket and for the A team. If he is up there when we get closer to the World T20, he will be on one of our key match-winners."
If Perera does make it, then that means Mahela Jayawardene is likely to drop down to the middle order - maybe not such a great idea, especially when the elegant right-hander is so lethal opening the innings for Sri Lanka in T20s.
New Zealand, at the other end, will be without exciting all-rounder Jimmy Neesham, who has been ruled out of the final match of the series with a finger injury. Neesham's absence could be Adam Milne's gain, with the fast bowler expected to come into the starting XI.
Kiwi acting captain Kyle Mills will be expecting his top order to fire in the final T20, after they have failed impress in the tour so far. Mills also singled out Ajantha Mendis as Sri Lanka's most dangerous bowler in the format.
"Mendis is a quality player," he said. "We expected him to play in the one-day series, so we did a bit of research and scouting -- especially for the new guys that haven't seen him before. We're anticipating he'll play on Thursday night."
Expected lineups: Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Dilshan, Sangakkara (wk), Jayawardene, Mathews, Chandimal (capt), Thisara Perera, Kulasekara, Senanayake, Malinga, Mendis.
New Zealand: Rutherford, Latham, Broom, Elliott, Munro, Ronchi (wk), N McCullum, Ellis, Milne, Mills (capt), McClenaghan.
