Kusal Perera’s maiden T20I century, combined with Skipper Charith Asalanka’s all-round performance, secured Sri Lanka a consolation win in the third T20I at Saxton Oval today (2nd). New Zealand claimed the series 2-1.
The hosts stuck to their winning combination and opted to bowl first. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, made two changes, bringing in Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Chamindu Wickramasinghe in place of Kamindu Mendis and Matheesha Pathirana.
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, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka (C), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara
After losing both openers inside the powerplay, Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando added 41 runs for the third wicket. Jacob Duffy, the standout bowler for the home side throughout the series, broke the partnership with the dismissal of Fernando, leaving Sri Lanka at 83/3 in 9.2 overs.
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Perera reached his fifty off just 27 balls, building momentum alongside Charith Asalanka in a dominating fourth-wicket stand. The two left-handers combined for a century partnership in just 45 balls before Zakary Foulkes dismissed Asalanka. The Skipper’s quick-fire 46 off 24 balls included five sixes.
Perera, however, went on to notch his maiden T20I century, smashing three sixes in four balls off Matt Henry. He became only the third Sri Lankan centurion in the format and the first since August 2012. Along the way, Perera also became the first Sri Lankan to surpass 2,000 T20I runs.
His brilliant knock ended in the penultimate over, having struck 13 fours and 4 sixes. Sri Lanka posted a formidable 218/5 in their 20 overs, their second-highest T20I total. While most New Zealand bowlers struggled, Duffy managed a respectable spell in tough conditions.
Tim Robinson and Rachin Ravindra gave New Zealand a flying start, racing to 81 in just 7.2 overs. Binura Fernando provided the breakthrough by dismissing Robinson for a quick-fire 37 off 21 balls. Charith Asalanka then wreaked havoc in the middle overs, claiming three crucial wickets, including that of Ravindra, who top-scored with a 39-ball 69. New Zealand was left at 129/4.
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Needing 76 from the final six overs, Daryl Mitchell reignited the chase by smashing four consecutive sixes off Asalanka’s final over. Despite bowling brilliantly in his first three overs, Asalanka finished with figures of 3/50. Wanindu Hasaranga bowled a stellar 16th over, conceding just two runs while picking up the wickets of Mitchell Hay and Michael Bracewell.
Mitchell Santner and Zakary Foulkes fought hard in the lower order, but Nuwan Thushara and Binura Fernando delivered superb spells at the death as New Zealand fell seven runs short of a clean-sweep victory.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Mitchell Hay b Matt Henry | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 116.67 |
| Kusal Mendis | c Michael Bracewell b Mitchell Santner | 22 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 137.50 |
| Kusal Perera | c Rachin Ravindra b Daryl Mitchell | 101 | 46 | 13 | 4 | 219.57 |
| Avishka Fernando | lbw b Jacob Duffy | 17 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 141.67 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Glenn Phillips b Zakary Foulkes | 46 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 191.67 |
| Bhanuka Rajapakse | not out | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Chamindu Wickramasinghe | not out | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 6 (b 0 , lb 1 , nb 1, w 4, pen 0) |
| Total | 218/5 (20 Overs, RR: 10.9) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Henry | 4 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 11.75 | |
| Jacob Duffy | 4 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 7.50 | |
| Zakary Foulkes | 4 | 0 | 52 | 1 | 13.00 | |
| Mitchell Santner | 3 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 12.00 | |
| Michael Bracewell | 3 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 11.33 | |
| Glenn Phillips | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.00 | |
| Daryl Mitchell | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6.00 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Robinson | c Kamindu Mendis b Binura Fernando | 37 | 21 | 2 | 2 | 176.19 |
| Rachin Ravindra | b Charith Asalanka | 69 | 39 | 5 | 4 | 176.92 |
| Mark Chapman | c Pathum Nissanka b Charith Asalanka | 9 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 180.00 |
| Glenn Phillips | c Pathum Nissanka b Charith Asalanka | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Daryl Mitchell | c Chamindu Wickramasinghe b Nuwan Thushara | 35 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 205.88 |
| Mitchell Hay | b Wanindu Hasaranga | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Michael Bracewell | c Charith Asalanka b Wanindu Hasaranga | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Mitchell Santner | not out | 14 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 140.00 |
| Zakary Foulkes | not out | 21 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 161.54 |
| Extras | 11 (b 0 , lb 3 , nb 1, w 7, pen 0) |
| Total | 211/7 (20 Overs, RR: 10.55) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamindu Wickramasinghe | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11.00 | |
| Nuwan Thushara | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 8.25 | |
| Binura Fernando | 4 | 0 | 43 | 1 | 10.75 | |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 11.00 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 | |
| Charith Asalanka | 4 | 0 | 50 | 3 | 12.50 | |
. New Zealand claimed the series 2-1.){kind=link}