Sri Lanka Vs New Zealand Highlights, 1st T20I: Follow Scorecard, Match Action & Highlights
Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st T20I Highlights: Follow the highlights, scorecard, and commentary of the 1st T20I between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Dambulla.
A captain’s knock by Charith Asalanka steered Sri Lanka to a hard-fought four-wicket victory over New Zealand with six balls to spare in Saturday’s Twenty20 opener in Dambulla.
Chasing a modest 136 to win, Sri Lanka’s batsman struggled to capitalise against the second-string visiting team.
But a crucial 38-run stand for the sixth wicket between Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga steadied the ship and inched the team to victory.
The stand was broken when Hasaranga went for a big shot off Zakary Foulkes but fell short, caught at mid-on by Kiwi captain Mitchell Santner and departing for 22.
Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, who took three of New Zealand’s wickets after the tourists opted to bat, sealed Sri Lanka’s win in style when he pulled Jacob Duffy for a six over mid-wicket.
Asalanka finished unbeaten on a well-judged 35 off 28 balls.
Right then, we are done with the 1st T20I in Dambulla and it is a quick turnaround for the 2nd and final T20I which will be played in less than 24 hours at the very same ground as the Kiwis look to salvage the series. The game will begin at 1.30 pm GMT on Sunday, 10 November but you can join well an hour in advance for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye.
Charith Asalanka, the captain of Sri Lanka is also the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his anchoring innings. Asalanka says that they were a bit nervous but his plan was to bat till the end and the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage did really well. Reckons they could have restricted New Zealand to 10-15 runs less but the tailenders batted well. Adds that as a team it doesn’t matter because everyone plays spin well and they are confident about it as well. Mentions that they are going forward well and hopefully, there’s more to come.
The captain of New Zealand, Mitchell Santner says that they did well to get to 130 but lauds the Sri Lankan spinners for the way they bowled. Feels that a couple of good knocks took the game away from them. Shares that at the start of the game, their aim was to get to 160 but looking at the wicket, they reassessed their target to 150. Tells that it is a privilege to lead the side and they have a young group where everyone is eager to learn. Further says that they have a lot of ODI and T20I cricket coming up, so this is the start of a campaign for them.
The presentation ceremony…
Kusal Perera is down for a quick chat. He says the wicket was doing something for the spinners all the time. Further adds that 130 wasn’t par but they still needed to bat well. About the new ball, he says that it was gripping and turning right throughout and it was difficult for the batters to play their shots. Further says that they had to take risks in order to create momentum and after that, they looked to milk the singles in the middle overs. Cheekily mentions that sweeping the spinners was his joy while batting.
Earlier in the game, Mitchell Santner had no hesitation in batting first as there was no rain but the Black Caps weren’t able to get going inside the Powerplay. They were 31/3 at the end of the Powerplay and all three Lankan frontline spinners had taken a wicket each by then. The bowlers continued to dominate in the middle phase but Michael Bracewell mustered up a few runs and late on, Zakary Foulkes played a fiery cameo to get New Zealand to 135 runs. The score still was under-par and in the end, it wasn’t a winning total which everyone suspected at the halfway interval.
New Zealand will be disappointed with the loss but they will take a lot of heart from this performance as well. The way they fought back late with the bat and then they kept on pressing with the ball as well. On a track that seemed to be suiting the spinners, it was young pacer Zakary Foulkes who picked up 3 wickets and just looked in control every time he came on to bowl. The spinners did pick up wickets but eventually, Sri Lanka just hit more boundaries and had more contributions with the bat.
A bit too close for comfort but Sri Lanka have managed to get over the line in this first T20I which means they cannot lose the series and their strong home form continues with another win. Chasing 136 for victory, Sri Lanka huffed and puffed early on but the top order went hard in the Powerplay and the likes of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera managed to take the sting out of the chase a bit. However, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals before skipper Charith Asalanka decided to take matters into his own hands putting up decent stands with Kamindu Mendis and then Wanindu Hasaranga and eventually, they just had enough individual scores of 20 plus to emerge victorious.
18.6 – SIX! BANG! Clean strike from Wellalage to finish things off! Duffy bowls the slower one and bashes it into the wicket, on off and middle. This sits up nicely for Wellalage who waits for the ball to arrive and smokes it over deep mid-wicket. Clears the fence with ease for a biggie. Sri Lanka win by 4 wickets with an over to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the series!
Batsman_1 : Dunith Wellalage 11(7)
Batsman_2 : Charith Asalanka 35(28)
Bowler : Jacob Duffy 0/29(4)
Over : 19
Run : 11
Wicket : 0
Score : 140/6
18.5 – Back to banging into the deck and at pace, on off, Dunith Wellalage backs away to slap it away on the off side but gets beaten due to the lift off the deck.
18.4 – FOUR! Gets it through and that should do it for Sri Lanka! Duffy slants it in but offers pace this time and this is a bit too full as well. Dunith Wellalage gets underneath it and drills it in the gap between cover and mid off for a boundary. Just 2 runs needed now.
18.3 – Two dots in a row! Duffy rolls his fingers over the ball and bowls it a bit fuller, on off, Dunith Wellalage is done in by the slowness of the delivery as he looks to play at it. Gets beaten all ends up and the ball goes on the bounce to the keeper.
18.2 – This is on a back of a length, on off, Dunith Wellalage backs away and tries to carve it away on the off side but gets beaten for pace.
18.1 – Angled in, on a length, on off, Charith Asalanka gets close to the line of the ball as he shuffles across and swings for the hills. Gets an outside edge that goes down to deep third. Ish Sodhi gets around to his right and cuts it off. They cross.
17.6 – Foulkes goes short, at the helmet of the batter, Dunith Wellalage ducks and lets it go.
Batsman_1 : Dunith Wellalage 1(2)
Batsman_2 : Charith Asalanka 34(27)
Bowler : Zakary Foulkes 3/20(3)
Over : 18
Run : 8
Wicket : 1
Score : 129/6
17.5 – On a fullish length, on middle and leg, Charith Asalanka flicks it through mid-wicket and gets to the other end.
17.4 – Dug in short but it is the slower one, on off and middle, Charith Asalanka gets on top of the bounce and pulls it in front of square on the leg side for a couple of runs.
17.3 – Another off-pace delivery, on a nagging length, on middle and leg, Dunith Wellalage nudges it in front of mid-wicket and takes the single. Wellalage opens his account with the bat in T20I cricket.
Dunith Wellalage is in next.
17.2 – OUT! CAUGHT! The slower ball does the trick for Foulkes! Takes all the pace off as he serves it at 105 kph and the length is pulled back as well, on a nagging length, Wanindu Hasaranga creates a base for himself to muscle it across the line but gets deceived by the lack of pace on the delivery. Spoons it in the air towards mid-wicket where Mitchell Santner turns around and takes it over his left shoulder. Sri Lanka lose their 6th wicket, needing 11 runs in 16 balls. Is there still life in it for New Zealand?
17.1 – FOUR! A gift and Wanindu Hasaranga accepts it gleefully! Foulkes tries to get the yorker in but ends up serving a low full toss, on off, Wanindu Hasaranga stays leg side of the ball and opens the bat face to slice it wide of backward point for a boundary.
16.6 – Beaten! From wide of the crease on the around-the-wicket angle, on a hard length, outside off, Charith Asalanka sees the width on offer and throws his hands at the delivery. The extra bounce results in the ball going over the bat. Sri Lanka need 15 runs in 18 balls.
Batsman_1 : Charith Asalanka 31(25)
Batsman_2 : Wanindu Hasaranga 18(21)
Bowler : Jacob Duffy 0/18(3)
Over : 17
Run : 4
Wicket : 0
Score : 121/5
16.5 – Angled into the right-hander, very full, on middle and leg, Wanindu Hasaranga crouches and knocks it down to long off for one more. Both batters are happy to do it in ones and twos.
16.4 – Pace taken off by Duffy and it is on a length, on off, Charith Asalanka waits for the ball to arrive and just dabs it wide of point for another single.
16.3 – At 135 kph, banged into the deck by Duffy, on off and middle, Wanindu Hasaranga does not quite get hold of it as he looks to slap it down the ground. Hits it on the bounce to long on for a single.
16.2 – Gets a good lift off the deck on the bumper does Duffy, around the right shoulder of the batter, Wanindu Hasaranga sways out of the line of the ball and lets it go.
16.1 – Quick single taken! Duffy steams in from around the wicket and digs it in short, on off, Charith Asalanka rises with the bounce and drops it with soft hands in front of cover and sets off for the run. Mitchell Santner swoops in and tries to release an underarm throw while diving ahead but fails to pick the ball cleanly, allowing Hasaranga to make his ground at the batting end.
15.6 – Floated up, fuller and slower, on off, Wanindu Hasaranga gets on the front foot and eases it back to the bowler. 9 runs off the over without taking any risk. Sri Lanka need 19 runs in 24 balls.
Batsman_1 : Wanindu Hasaranga 16(18)
Batsman_2 : Charith Asalanka 29(22)
Bowler : Mitchell Santner 1/30(4)
Over : 16
Run : 9
Wicket : 0
Score : 117/5
15.5 – Dropped short again by Santner from around the wicket, on off, Wanindu Hasaranga leans back and slaps it past the diving cover fielder. Calls for two immediately and makes it as the throw from the wide long off fielder comes in. Good running.
15.4 – A bit too straight from Santner, on the pads, on a nagging length, Charith Asalanka gets inside the line of the ball and nurdles it through square leg for one.
Welcome back for the chase.
… THE RUN CHASE …
Right then, Sri Lanka would have gladly accepted a target of 136 after losing the toss, but with the significant turn and the pitch playing on the slower side, this chase might not be as straightforward as it seems. The Powerplay will be crucial for both sides and given the spin options they have in their ranks, New Zealand can certainly make a match out of this. It is set up for an interesting chase. Back in a bit for Sri Lanka’s reply.
Wanindu Hasaranga is in for a chat. He says that they have world-class spinners and after losing the toss, it didn’t matter as everyone bowled really well. Adds that the wicket looks a bit slow and they tried to bowl at the stumps more and at their normal rhythm. Reckons that varying the pace is key on this pitch and ends by saying that they need the Powerplay to go well and is confident that they will get it done.
New Zealand kept losing wickets at regular intervals and could never really get out of the first gear. Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner got starts but neither of them really looked assured out in the middle.
Well, Sri Lanka eventually complete the cleanup job but they will be a bit disappointed to have let New Zealand get to 135! Other than Charith Asalanka’s couple of overs and that 20-run over from Matheesha Pathirana, it was a good effort from the hosts. Earlier, after opting to bat first, the start did look promising for the tourists when they racked up 12 runs off the first over but their troubles began as soon as the Sri Lanka bowlers started hitting their straps.
Edged and gone! Or is it? Sri Lanka are pretty confident and they have taken the review. The UltraEdge does show a spike when the ball is next to the bat and that will be the end of New Zealand’s innings.
19.3 – OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Dunith Wellalage with the double whammy to close out the innings.
Batsman_1 : Jacob Duffy 0(1)
Batsman_2 : Zakary Foulkes 27(16)
Bowler : Dunith Wellalage 3/20(3.3)
Over : 19.3
Run : 2
Wicket : 2
Score : 135/10
Jacob Duffy is the last man in.
19.2 – OUT! CAUGHT! Top catch from the Lankan skipper!