SL vs NZ Photos  2024 Sri Lanka vs New Zealand

Sri Lanka 218 for 5 (Perera 101, Asalanka 46) beat New Zealand 211 for 7 (Ravindra 69, Asalanka 3-50, Hasaranga 2-38) by 7 runs. In the end, it was enough for Sri Lanka. It’s not something you’d expect from a team that made 218 in their first innings, but it speaks to how well New Zealand prepared to chase their target for most of the innings. The win came mainly thanks to Kusal Perera’s maiden T20I century, the fastest by a Sri Lankan, which came off just 44 balls. New Zealand maintained a required rate of around 11-per-over for about 15 overs of the chase, Sri Lanka thought they had done enough with two wickets in the death overs,

but Zaccharie Foulkes’ fiery batting in the final overs once again raised a scare. But, despite their frayed nerves, Sri Lanka managed a consolation win by seven runs. Having entered the powerplay, Perera was dismissed with less than two overs remaining in the innings, and such was the impact of his knock that despite scoring a run a ball in the final two overs, Sri Lanka could not be prevented from registering their second-highest T20I score. Asalanka also played a stellar role – despite the treatment he received from Mitchell – scoring 46 with the bat as well as taking three wickets, derailing New Zealand’s well-planned chase. He also took a brilliant catch at extra cover and bowled superbly. Jacob Duffy, who had been a thorn in Sri Lanka’s side throughout the series, took just one wicket this time around, though his economy rate of 7.50 was better than any bowler who bowled at least two overs in the game.

He was named Player of the Series. Early jitters between Sri Lanka and New Zealand The volatile nature of the game was evident from the start. Sri Lanka lost three of their top four inside the first 10 overs and their openers inside the powerplay, but they did not let it slow them down. Kusal Mendis made 22 off 16 balls, Pathum Nissanka 14 off 12 balls and Avishka Fernando 17 off 12 balls, helping Sri Lanka maintain a steady rate of around eight runs per over. Despite the early wickets, it could have been even better if New Zealand had prevented a reverse sweep off Perera when he was on just 15 Mitchell Santner celebrates taking the wicket of Kusal Mendis•Marty Melville/AFP via Getty Images Perera and Sri Lanka hold on Despite losing three wickets, Sri Lanka had scored 85 after the first 10 overs, their best score in a half-innings in the entire series.

But that score could easily have been lower in the 10 overs that followed. Led by the aggressive Perera and helped by some short boundaries in Nelson, Sri Lanka plundered 133 runs in the final 10 overs – and it could have been a lot bigger had Mitchell and Duffy not bowled two superb overs in the death. Those two overs conceded six runs each, but Sri Lanka still managed 218. Although he initially targeted the boundary behind square with a catalogue of sweeps, switch hits and outright slogs, in the end his innings was truly a 360-degree performance – he completed his century emphatically by hitting a huge six over point over the covers. He was accompanied by the equally aggressive Asalanka, who made 46 off 24 balls and shared a 100-run stand for the fourth wicket, which they completed in just 45 balls. Well-prepared New Zealand put up a blistering performance Whatever the match situation, you can always expect New Zealand to have an effective plan and their chase in Nelson was a prime example of that. Most teams get nervous chasing a target of 219,

but New Zealand picked up the pace right from the first over of the chase, as Tim Robinson and Rachin Ravindra Nuwan Thushara then bowled five-run overs, but New Zealand made up for it by dismissing Binura Fernando, Sri Lanka’s most effective pacer in this series, for 18 in his first over. 63 were scored inside the powerplay, but the onslaught continued after that. By halftime, New Zealand were 108 for one with eight wickets still in hand. Charith Asalanka takes wickets in three successive overs•Marty Melville/AFP via Getty Images Asalanka the unexpected hero With Thushara and Binura saved for the death overs and Theekshana having a poor day, Asalanka faced a conundrum in the middle overs. Was he going to rely on Hare Wickremesinghe to tackle this challenge.