This will be the first meeting between Sri Lanka and Nepal in any format of international cricket; the Lions have lost just two of the last 10 instances (L2) in which they faced an opponent for the first time in T20Is, a 32-run loss to South Africa (22 September 2012) and a three-wicket loss to India (10 February 2009).
Nepal has alternated between a loss and a win in their four games in the Men’s T20 World Cup (P4 W2 L2); the Rhinos faced two full-member sides in this stretch, registering a 9-run win over Afghanistan and an 8-wicket loss against Bangladesh (both in 2014).
Sri Lanka have lost each of their last three games in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, their joint longest suck streak in competition history; in fact, this is the first time the Lions have lost their first two games of an edition.
Nepal have lost their last three men’s T20Is on the bounce, after winning four games in succession prior to that; the last time the Rhinos registered a longer losing streak in the format was a stretch of four games between July 2015 and January 2019.
Sri Lanka have logged a collective bowling average of 19.2 in men’s T20Is in 2024, the best of all full-member sides; in fact, their bowling strike rate of 15.9 is also the best by any full-member side during the same span.
Nepal have won just one of their four meetings with full-member sides in men’s T20Is (L3), with the sole win coming by an 9 run margin against Afghanistan (20 March 2014).
Kushal Bhurtel (9 50+ scores) is one away from becoming the second player to registered 10 50+ scores for Nepal in men’s T20Is (Dipendra Singh Airee – 10); however, Bhurtel has scored less than 10 runs in each of his last four innings in the format, three ducks in this span.
Dasun Shanaka (1,456 runs) is 38 away from surpassing Mahela Jayawardene (1,493 runs) to become the player with the fourth most runs scored for Sri Lanka in men’s T20Is; however, Shanaka has logged single digit scores in both the Lions’ games so far this season (3 and 9).
Rohit Paudel (95 fours) is five away from becoming the fourth Nepal batter to hit 100 or more boundary fours in men’s T20Is (Dipendra Singh Airee – 126, Kushal Bhurtel – 111, and Aasif Sheikh – 100); in fact, Paudel struck five boundaries in his side’s opening game of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (vs Netherlands on 4 June 2024).
Wanindu Hasaranga (35 wickets) is three away from equaling Lasith Malinga (38) to become with the player with most wickets for Sri Lanka in the Men’s T20 World Cup; Hasaranga has taken three or more wickets in an innings in the competition on six occasions.