2nd T20I
New Zealand team has sealed the series victory against the Sri Lanka in the 2nd T20I
New Zealand scored 186/5 in 20 overs, where as Sri Lanka scored 141 in 19.1 overs.
So, finally New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 45 runs.
New Zealand took a 2-0 lead against Sri Lanka to clinch the three-match T20I series with a game to spare.
The standout performer for the hosts was pacer Jacob Duffy, who struck at regular intervals to completely derail Sri Lanka’s chase, leaving them 45 runs short of their target of 186.
New Zealand’s batting performance in the second game was more well-rounded, an improvement from the first.
After being put in to bat, they lost Rachin Ravindra early in the third over.
However, Tim Robinson and Mark Chapman built a solid 69-run partnership off 47 balls, laying a strong foundation in the first half of the innings.
Despite a pitch that wasn’t conducive to aggressive strokeplay, the pair found success early, particularly against Maheesh Theekshana, who erred in length during the powerplay.
Chapman survived an LBW review in the same over and was dropped once, but continued to score at a healthy rate.
Robinson slog-swept Wanindu Hasaranga for a six before being undone by the googly.
This triggered a few quiet overs until Glenn Phillips came in, blasting back-to-back boundaries off Pathirana.
Theekshana proved more hittable, with Phillips and Chapman each smashing a six off him in the following over.
However, just as they were gaining momentum, Hasaranga struck again with his googly to have Chapman stumped.
Phillips soon followed, leaving New Zealand at 122/4.
Daryl Mitchell then anchored the innings, and the final three overs saw a flurry of runs.
Mitchell Hay’s aggressive hitting—particularly two sixes off Theekshana and two boundaries in the last over—added 34 runs in the final two overs, giving New Zealand a strong finish.
Sri Lanka’s chase started positively with the top order giving them a solid base.
However, the lower order collapsed, unable to sustain the momentum.
New Zealand struck regularly, with Mitchell Santner giving the hosts the first breakthrough after the openers had made steady progress at eight runs per over.
Kusal Mendis, attempting a drive, was caught off Santner’s first delivery.
Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka steadied the ship, but Duffy struck in his first spell, removing Nissanka with a slower ball.
Kusal attacked the spinners, taking on both Bracewell and Phillips, but New Zealand continued to break through.
Bracewell dismissed Kamindu shortly after, and the game began to tilt towards New Zealand.
Kusal and Charith Asalanka added some quick runs, but the final five overs saw a dramatic collapse.
Duffy, who had bowled a brilliant first spell (2-0-7-1), returned to take the key wicket of Kusal with a yorker.
Santner followed up by removing Asalanka, and Duffy finished off Sri Lanka’s resistance with two more wickets in the penultimate over, sealing his four-wicket haul and New Zealand’s series-clinching victory.
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