2nd T20I
Lockie Ferguson and Glenn Phillips has turned the tide against Sri Lanka to level the series
New Zealand scored 108 in 19.3 overs, where as Sri Lanka scored 103 in 19.5 overs.
So, finally New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 5 runs.
Lockie Ferguson claimed a stunning hat-trick, while Glenn Phillips took three wickets in the 20th over to help New Zealand pull off a sensational five-run victory in Dambulla, leveling the series.
Sri Lanka had New Zealand on the ropes, with Wanindu Hasaranga (4-17) and Matheesha Pathirana (3-11) dismantling the visitors’ batting to bowl them out for just 108.
Pathum Nissanka’s half-century kept Sri Lanka in the hunt, but Phillips’ brilliant death bowling, defending eight runs off the final over, sealed the win for New Zealand.
The match started poorly for New Zealand, even before Hasaranga and Pathirana wreaked havoc.
Nuwan Thusara made early inroads, striking on the first ball of both his opening overs.
He dismissed Tim Robinson with a fast inswinging yorker that shattered the stumps, and then sent Mark Chapman back with a slower ball that was edged to Kamindu Mendis at short extra cover.
Will Young and Glenn Phillips steadied the ship, taking New Zealand to 33 for 2 by the end of the Power Play, but Hasaranga was quick to make his impact.
For the second game in a row, Hasaranga’s googlies caused havoc.
He first cleaned up Phillips with a delivery that spun past the bat and rattled the stumps.
In the same over, he bowled a classic leg spinner that deceived Bracewell, who missed his shot and was bowled.
Mitch Hay was next, undone by a flighted leg spinner that beat him in the air and clipped the top of off-stump.
New Zealand were in disarray at 45 for 5 in the 9th over.
Hasaranga’s fourth victim came shortly after, with Will Young missing a sweep and being stumped for 19, leaving New Zealand on the brink at 45 for 6.
Hasaranga finished with remarkable figures of 4 for 17 from his four overs.
Pathirana continued the carnage, preventing any hope of a recovery.
He dismissed Mitchell Santner with a slower short ball, caught by Dunith Wellalage at long-on.
In the penultimate over, Pathirana had Zakary Foulkes caught off another slower ball, this time by Bhanuka Rajapaksa at third man.
Maheesh Theekshana then cleaned up Ish Sodhi in the 20th over, leaving New Zealand all out for 108.
Chasing the target, Sri Lanka’s response was shaky.
Santner got them off to a perfect start, cleaning up Kusal Mendis in the second over.
Sri Lanka’s run-chase was off to a sluggish start, with Nissanka hitting the first boundary of the innings only in the fifth over.
Ferguson then delivered a crucial blow, taking the first of his three wickets in the final ball of the Power Play.
He had Kusal Perera caught behind by Mitch Hay.
In the eighth over, Ferguson trapped Kamindu Mendis plumb in front, and on the very next ball, he got Charith Asalanka caught behind down the leg side to complete his hat-trick.
Despite the early setbacks, Nissanka kept Sri Lanka’s hopes alive, reaching his half-century and taking the chase deep into the final overs.
But New Zealand continued to apply pressure, with Michael Bracewell removing Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dunith Wellalage.
Nissanka was now the lone fighter, but his efforts were undone in the 20th over.
Phillips, who had bowled a tight 17th over giving away just four runs, returned to bowl the final over.
The game swung in New Zealand’s favor when Nissanka, going for a big shot, holed out to substitute fielder Henry Nicholls at long-on.
Phillips then had Pathirana stumped, leaving Sri Lanka needing a miracle.
Nuwan Thusara survived the hat-trick ball and turned the strike over, but Theekshana was caught behind off the next delivery, attempting a slog sweep, to seal a dramatic five-run victory for New Zealand.
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