Sri Lanka blew up their chances of beating New Zealand in the first T20 cricket International at Mount Maunganui yesterday while losing crashing from what looked like a secure 121 for no loss to 164 for 8 in the 20 overs faced with a 173 target.
In pursuit of the target Sri Lanka lost eight wickets for 43 runs inside 5.5 overs after opener Kusal Mendis (46) and his partner Pathum Nissanka (90) shared in a stand of 121 inside 13.3 overs before the floodgates opened.
The last chance that Sri Lanka had of winning the match was dashed when Pathum Nissanka fell for 90 in the second ball of the 18th over with the total at 153.
The dismissal of Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva dealt a further blow when he was run out attempting to regain the strike with four ball left and the total at 159 for 7.
The match turned New Zealand’s way when fast bowler Jacob Duffy broke the opening stand and then had Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis without scoring all in one eventful over to be adjudged the player of the match.
Earlier it was the opposite for New Zealand when they batted as they recovered from a disastrous 65 for 5 in 9.5 overs thanks to Daryl Mitchell (62) and Michael Bracewell (59) who took the total to 170 before parting company in the last over.
Scores
New Zealand: 172/8 in 20 overs (Tim Robinson 11, Mark Chapman 15, Daryl Mitchell 62, Michael Bracewell 59, Binura Fernando 2/22, Maheesh Theekshana 2/29, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/33)
Sri Lanka: 164/8 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 90, Kusal Mendis 46, Matt Henry 2/28, Jacob Duffy 3/21, Zakary Foulkes 2/41)
