Sri Lanka secured a 1-0 lead with their impressive all-round performance in the first fixture of the two-match T20I series. The game took place on Saturday (November 9) in Dambulla.
New Zealand’s decision to bat first misfired them badly. Dunith Wellalage trapped Tim Robinson (1) LBW to open the floodgates for the hosts. Then, Nuwan Thushara deceived Mark Chapman (1) with a slower delivery and got him holed out at deep square leg.
Although, Will Young (19) got a good start, he could not convert it into a substantial knock. The right-hander failed to gauge the full-length ball by Maheesh Theekshana and was trapped LBW.
Soon, Wanindu Hasaranga found Glenn Phillips (13) plumb LBW with his quick googly. Thereafter, skipper Charith Asalanka played a masterstroke to introduce Matheesha Pathirana at the right time. The right-arm pacer used his variations to dismiss Mitch Hay (0) and Josh Clarkson (3) in consecutive overs. Michael Bracewell understood the surface and landed some lusty blows.
However, Bracewell’s innings was put to an end by Thushara, who bowled a slower delivery, and the southpaw went through with his shot to only get caught at the deep mid-wicket region. He scored 27 off 24, with two fours and a six.
Captain Mitchell Santner (16) and Zakary Foulkes (27*) were the other contributors, as the visitors were bundled out for 135. Wellalage was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka with three wickets, while Hasaranga, Pathirana and Thushara bagged two each.
Charith Asalanka plays a captain’s knock to take Sri Lanka home
In response to a low total, Sri Lanka lost their reliable batter, Kusal Mendis (0) early, as Mitchell Santner trapped him LBW. However, Pathum Nissanka (19) and Kusal Perera stitched a crucial 40-run stand to get things back on track, before Nissanka was bowled by Zakary Foulkes.
Soon, Michael Bracewell took an important wicket of Perera (23) via LBW dismissal. Although, Kamindu Mendis (23) was securing consistent boundaries, Glenn Phillips dismissed him in the 11th over. Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s (4) dismissal by Foulkes brought another twist in the tale, and put the Sri Lanka team under a spot of bother.
Nevertheless, skipper Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga played mature knocks to steer the team safely in the next few overs. Hasaranga made way for 22 off 23, and put the team on the brink of a victory. Asalanka (35*) and Dunith Wellalage (11*) remained unbeaten as Sri Lanka finished the chase in 19 overs. Foulkes was the finest bowler for the visitors with three scalps.
Both teams will meet for the second and final T20I on Sunday (November 10).
