Sri Lanka upstaged by New Zealand in an electrifying T20I

New Zealand absorbed the pressure well to beat reigning World T20 champions, Sri Lanka by 3 runs in the first T20 match played at Mount Maunganui on Thursday.

A cliffhanger of a game saw the pendulum swing both ways throughout the match but in the end, New Zealand did not let Sri Lanka cross the line to take 1-0 lead in two-match series.

Earlier, stand-in Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal won the toss and elected to field. Kane Williamson as the new Kiwi T20 skipper came out to bat alongside Martin Guptill. The latter hammered 14 from the first over as they raced to 62 without a loss after 6 overs.

Guptill was striking sweetly while Williamson silently accumulated runs as the hosts’ were 97 at the half-way point. An excellent direct-hit from Kapugedara dismissed the dangerous Guptill after he made 4 sixes and 4 fours during his 34-ball 58. The two right-handers posted the highest New Zealand opening stand (101) against Sri Lanka in T20 cricket.

Vandersay, Jayasuriya and Dilshan restricted the run-flow by bowling a few good overs for the visitors in the middle stages of the innings.  The experienced Kulasekara got the better of Williamson at the start of the 16^th over when the skipper was caught at deep midwicket. He made a 42-ball 53.

Vandersay got the prized scalp of Corey Anderson when the left-hander mistimed a slog drive. Anderson was selected as a specialist batsman after recovering from an injury. Young Colin Munro struggled to put away the Lankan spinners early on, but after he was dropped on 24 by Jayasuriya, he punished the visitors using sheer power and switch-hits.

Kulasekara’s excellent change of pace resulted in the dismissal of Munro as he gave a simple catch straight back to the bowler to end his 26-ball 36. Ross Taylor managed to get New Zealand to a commendable 182 through his late surge of 22 off 9 balls. Kulasekara was the pick of the bowlers grabbing 2 wickets for 26 during his quota of 4 overs.

Chasing 183 runs to win, T20 debutant Gunathilaka started off in his usual fashion by collecting 10 runs off the first over bowled by Matt Henry. Dilshan was caught-behind down the leg side for a golden duck off Trent Boult.

Skipper Chandimal batting at number 3 gave away his wicket when he attempted a big heave to the leg-side but only found him back in the dugout as the ball scooped up in the air to give a simple catch to Ish Sodhi in the 3^rd over of the innings. Jayasuriya (4) perished in the same fashion like Dilshan while experienced Mathews (4) gave a flat catch to Grant Elliott at extra-cover as the Lankans were 42 for 4 with only 5 overs in the innings.

Gunathilaka was brilliant with his stroke play as he punished whatever was in his range. He and Siriwardana constructed a valuable 42-run stand for the 5^th wicket before Gunathilaka was dismissed for 46 off a googly by Ish Sodhi.

Thisara Perera played a good cameo of a 19-ball 28 which brought the Lankans back into the game as he added 49 alongside Siriwardana who batted sensibly. Perera became Henry’s 3^rd victim while looking for quick runs. Siriwardana was once again at his best steering the chase with a well-compiled 42 but a very good catch by Mitchell McClenaghan ended his stay.

McClenaghan bowled a superb penultimate over as the Lankans needed 13 runs off the last over with Kulasekara and Kapugedara at the crease but Grant Elliott held his nerve to bowl the final over to only 9 runs.

Sri Lanka will rue their performances in the Powerplays in both innings which made the difference as the defending World T20 champions will need to win the final game to retain their number 1 ranking. The second and final T20I will be played on Sunday in Auckland.