Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand by four wickets in a relatively easy contest for the home team in the first T20 International at the Dambulla Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Faced with a target of 136 there was no way the Kiwis could have restricted or bowled out Sri Lanka although opener Kusal Mendis was dismissed leg-before without scoring. Earlier Sri Lanka restricted New Zealand to 135 as the Kiwis had no formula to counter the Sri Lankan spinners and lost wickets at regular intervals unable to come to grips on a slow turning pitch.
The tourists never recovered after losing opener Tim Robinson for 3 bowled by spinner Dunith Wellalage in the second over and crashed to 67 for 6 at one stage.
Scores:
New Zealand: 135 in19.3 overs (Will Young 19, Glenn Phillips 13, Michael Bracewell 27, Mitchell Santner 16, Zakary Foulkes 27 n.o., Nuwan Thushara 2/14, Dunith Wellalage 3/20, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/20, Matheesha Pathirana 2/19)
Sri Lanka: 140 for 6 in 19 overs (Kusal Perera 23, Pathum Nissanka 19, Kamindu Mendis 23, Charith Asalanka 35 not out, Wanindu Hasaranga 22, Dunith Wellalage 11 not out, Zakary Foulkes 3 for 20)
