MOUNT MAUNGANUI:
A late bowling fightback sparked by Jacob Duffy produced a exceptional eight-run victory for New Zealand in opposition to Sri Lanka at Mount Maunganui on Saturday.
Sri Lanka, with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis in glowing kind, have been cruising in direction of the 173-run goal once they reached 95 with out loss on the midway stage.
However within the 14th over, with Sri Lanka 121-0, Duffy modified the sport with three wickets in 4 balls, all caught behind by Mitchell Hay, starting with the dismissal of Mendis for 46 off 36 deliveries.
Nissanka went on to make 90 off 60, which included seven fours and three sixes for his highest Twenty20 rating, whereas no different Sri Lankan reached double figures.
“We should always have carried out higher,” was the succinct abstract from Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka who was out for 3 and likewise dropped a catch.
“Pathum and Kusal batted nicely, the remaining together with me ought to take duty for this loss.”
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner mentioned Duffy modified the sport together with his 3-21 after the house facet reached 172-8 of their 20 overs with the innings propped up by a century stand by Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell. The pair got here collectively within the tenth over with New Zealand struggling at 65-5 and placed on 105 earlier than each have been dismissed within the last over.
Mitchell was stumped for 62 off 42 deliveries whereas Bracewell was caught behind for 59 off 33.
“It was an enormous partnership for us, the best way they went about it, they soaked it up for a bit then put the strain again on to place up a fairly good rating,” Santner mentioned.
Binura Fernando, who eliminated each New Zealand openers in his second over, completed with 2-22.
Tim Robinson was caught and bowled for 11 when he drove a short-pitched supply straight again to the bowler.
Three balls later Rachin Ravindra, on eight, nicked an outswinger and was caught behind. Mark Chapman, dropped on 4, reached 15 earlier than he was caught on the boundary by Kamindu Mendis off the bowling of Matheesha Pathirana. AFP