After a brilliant century stand between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka collapsed in their chase of 173, handing New Zealand an 8-run victory in the first game of the three-match T20I series, played today (28th) at Bay Oval.
After winning the toss, Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka chose to bowl first. They opted for a three-pace attack, bringing Binura Fernando back into the side for his first appearance since March.
For New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, and Matt Henry returned to their side, having last featured in the T20 World Cup in June this year.
Playing XI:
New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Hay (WK), Mitchell Santner (C), Matt Henry, Zakary Foulkes, Jacob Duffy
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (C), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara
Tim Robinson and Rachin Ravindra opened the batting for the hosts but were both sent back by Binura Fernando in the 4th over, with just 21 runs on the board. Fernando nearly had a third wicket, but Charith Asalanka dropped Mark Chapman at mid-off.
Matheesha Pathirana was introduced immediately after the powerplay and struck with his fourth delivery as Chapman failed to capitalize on his reprieve, holding out to deep backward square leg. Wanindu Hasaranga then put the visitors on top, trapping Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Hay in consecutive deliveries, leaving the Black Caps reeling at 65/5 at the halfway mark of the innings.
However, New Zealand recovered well through a sixth-wicket stand between Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell. The duo shared a 105-run partnership off just 60 balls. Both batters reached their fifties, with Bracewell being the aggressor, smashing 59 off 33 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes. Mitchell top-scored with 62 off 42 balls, including 4 fours and 2 sixes.
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Maheesh Theekshana bowled a superb final over, dismissing both set batters while conceding only three runs. A last-ball runout saw the hosts finish at 172/8. Fernando was the pick of the bowlers, while Pathirana had a forgettable outing, returning figures of 1/60 in his 4 overs.
In the chase, Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis gave their side a superb start, scoring 56 runs in the first 6 overs. The two right-handers continued to frustrate the home side, extending their opening stand to a century partnership. This was just the fourth century stand for Sri Lanka in T20Is and the first since 2016.
The 121-run opening partnership ended when Mendis fell 4 runs short of his fifty, dismissed by Jacob Duffy in the 14th over. Duffy then removed Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis for ducks in the same over, turning the game on its head.
After batting brilliantly, Nissanka missed out on his maiden T20I century by just 10 runs, which would have been Sri Lanka’s first since 2011. Tim Robinson took a fine catch on the ropes to dismiss the opener, whose 60-ball knock included 7 fours and 3 sixes.
Apart from the openers, no other Lankan batter managed to get going, with wickets falling at regular intervals. Sri Lanka ultimately fell short, finishing at 164/8 and handing New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the series. Duffy, the standout performer who turned the game around, finished with 3/21, while Matt Henry and Zakary Foulkes chipped in with two wickets each.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Robinson | c & b Binura Fernando | 11 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 122.22 |
| Rachin Ravindra | c Kusal Mendis b Binura Fernando | 8 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 57.14 |
| Mark Chapman | c Kamindu Mendis b Matheesha Pathirana | 15 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 115.38 |
| Glenn Phillips | lbw b Wanindu Hasaranga | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 88.89 |
| Daryl Mitchell | st b | 62 | 42 | 4 | 2 | 147.62 |
| Mitchell Hay | lbw b Wanindu Hasaranga | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Michael Bracewell | c & b | 59 | 33 | 4 | 4 | 178.79 |
| Mitchell Santner | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Zakary Foulkes | run out () | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 7 (b 0 , lb 0 , nb 3, w 4, pen 0) |
| Total | 172/8 (20 Overs, RR: 8.6) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuwan Thushara | 4 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 7.00 | |
| Binura Fernando | 4 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 5.50 | |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 7.25 | |
| Matheesha Pathirana | 4 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 15.00 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 33 | 2 | 8.25 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Tim Robinson b Matt Henry | 90 | 60 | 7 | 3 | 150.00 |
| Kusal Mendis | c Mitchell Hay b Jacob Duffy | 46 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 127.78 |
| Kusal Perera | c Mitchell Hay b Jacob Duffy | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kamindu Mendis | c Mitchell Hay b Jacob Duffy | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Michael Bracewell b Zakary Foulkes | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 42.86 |
| Bhanuka Rajapakse | b Matt Henry | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 160.00 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | run out (Zakary Foulkes) | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 250.00 |
| Mahesh Theekshana | c Jacob Duffy b Zakary Foulkes | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Binura Fernando | not out | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 7 (b 2 , lb 2 , nb 0, w 3, pen 0) |
| Total | 164/8 (20 Overs, RR: 8.2) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 4 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 7.00 | |
| Jacob Duffy | 4 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 5.25 | |
| Zakary Foulkes | 4 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 10.25 | |
| Mitchell Santner | 4 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 6.50 | |
| Michael Bracewell | 3 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 10.00 | |
| Rachin Ravindra | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14.00 | |
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