Sri Lanka received the primary T20I of their two-match sequence in opposition to New Zealand by 4 wickets with an over to spare on the Rangiri Dambulla Worldwide Stadium on Saturday, November 9.
Mitchell Santner received the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bat first on a pitch that seemed to be on the slower aspect from the outset. Maheesh Theekshana began proceedings for Sri Lanka with Nuwan Thushara and the previous gave the hosts their first breakthrough when he dismissed Tim Robinson within the third over. New Zealand misplaced two extra wickets and ended the powerplay at 31/3.
Wickets stored tumbling for the Kiwis because the Sri Lankan spinners bowled with nice management and made wonderful use of the beneficial floor. The vacationers misplaced their eighth wicket within the sixteenth over with simply 96 runs on the board. Proper-arm pacer Zakary Foulkes performed a blinder of an innings at No. 9 as his unbeaten 27 off 16 balls helped New Zealand attain a decent whole of 135.
Dunith Wellalage stood out with the ball for Sri Lanka as he accounted for 3 New Zealand wickets. Thushara, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Matheesha Pathirana took two wickets apiece as Charith Asalanka was the one bowler who could not open his account for the Lankan Lions.
New Zealand grind however Sri Lanka persevere
Sri Lanka misplaced the wicket of Kusal Mendis within the second over as Santner offered the early breakthrough. Nonetheless, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera made the many of the subject restrictions and placed on a whirlwind 40-run stand off 22 balls. Each batters received begins however could not convert them into substantial scores as they departed in consecutive overs.
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Sri Lanka have been decently positioned at 55/3 on the finish of seven overs. The in-form Kamindu Mendis and captain Asalanka stitched a 27-run stand off 22 balls to take the house aspect nearer to the 136-run goal. Nonetheless, Kamindu was dismissed within the eleventh over and Bhanuka Rajapaksa walked out to the center. The latter was dismissed within the following over as he could not management a bouncer from Foulkes.
Sri Lanka misplaced half their aspect for 87 runs in 11.3 overs as Hasaranga joined his captain within the center. The skilled duo batted with composure and took their workforce to the brink earlier than Hasaranga was dismissed within the 18th over by one other brief ball from Foulkes.
New Zealand fought laborious until the top however their hopes have been quashed within the penultimate over as Wellalage completed the match with a boundary and a six off Jacob Duffy. Asalanka held the Sri Lankan innings from one finish as he remained unbeaten on 35 off 28 balls.
Here is how ‘X’ customers reacted to Sri Lanka’s win in opposition to New Zealand –
Wonderful bowling from Sri Lanka has bowled New Zealand out for 135 within the first T20I in Dambulla.
— KYA CHAL RAHA HAI !!! (@KCRH261564) November 9, 2024
136 will take some getting on this floor. Tempo on shall be to the batters profit, and the ability play rating may be decisive. 1st T20I Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand.
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) November 9, 2024
SRI LANKA DEFEATED NEW ZEALAND IN THE FIRST T20I…!!!!
– Lanka continues to dominate underneath Sanath Jayasuriya as a Coach 💪 pic.twitter.com/H8GjLeIV7H
— ɴɪᴛʀᴏɢᴇɴ 𝕩 (@SuhailXnitrogen) November 9, 2024
🚨Sri Lanka beats New Zealand within the 1st T20i.
– The Sri Lankan cricket workforce has was one thing else since Sanath Jayasuriya joined the workforce as their Head Coach.🥶
– SRI LANKA UP BY 1-0 within the 2-match T20 Sequence in opposition to NEW ZEALAND!🔝 pic.twitter.com/XCCbzmG2oR
— CricTalkxRaj (@CricTalk29) November 9, 2024
That is a formidable win for Sri Lanka! Underneath the steerage of Sanath Jayasuriya as coach, they appear to be displaying nice kind and resilience. It is thrilling to see them dominate within the first T20I in opposition to New Zealand. Along with his expertise and management,
— RATHORE (@GSR2139) November 9, 2024
SRI LANKA HAVE DEFEATED NEW ZEALAND BY 4 WICKETS IN 1ST T20!!🔥❤️❤️#NzvsSl
— Muhammad Zain (@i_MuhammadZain) November 9, 2024
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