Late bowling brawl provoked Jacob Duffy New Zealand recorded a remarkable eight-run win over Sri Lanka on Saturday at Mount Maunganui. Sri Lanka, with bottle openers Pathum Nissanka And Where in Mendi in brilliant form, were marching towards the 173-run target when they reached 95 at the halfway stage without loss. But in the 14th over with Sri Lanka at 121–0, Duffy changed the game by taking three wickets off four balls, all caught behind. Mitchell Haystarting with the dismissal of Mendis for 46 off 36 deliveries.
Nissanka made 90 off 60, including seven fours and three sixes, his highest score in T20Is, while no other Sri Lankan reached double figures.
The visitors lost 8 wickets for 43 runs as New Zealand made a huge escape.
“We should have done better,” was the Sri Lankan captain’s summary. Charit Asalanka who was out for three and also dropped the catch.
“Pathum and Kusal fought well, the rest, including me, must take responsibility for this defeat.”
New Zealand Captain Mitchell Santner said Duffy changed the game with his score of 3-21 after the home team reached 172-8 in their 20 overs with an innings backed by a century of waiting Daryl Mitchell And Michael Bracewell.
The pair came together in the 10th over, with New Zealand battling to 65-5 and amassing 105 before both were dismissed in the final over.
Mitchell was stumped on 62 from 42 balls while Bracewell was trailing on 59 from 33.
“It was a massive partnership for us, the way they went about it was they stuck it out for a bit and then put the pressure back on to get a pretty good score,” Santner said.
Binura Fernando, who removed both New Zealand openers in the second over, finished with 2-22.
Tim Robinson was caught and bowled out for 11 when he sent a short delivery straight back to the bowler.
Three goals later Rachin Ravindrain the eighth, grabbed the outswinger and found himself behind.
Mark Chapmanfell by four, reached 15 before being caught on the border Kamindu Mendis from bowling Matisha Pathirana.
Glenn Phillips made eight of nine deliveries when he was trapped in front, and Mitchell Hay bowled first when he played and missed a delivery that hit the pads.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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