Charith Asalanka’s patient knock guided Sri Lanka to a comfortable win over New Zealand in the first T20I, after the bowlers restricted them to just 135 at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bat first. The visitors handed a T20 International debut to 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Mitch Hay from Christchurch.
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Sri Lanka, on the other hand, made no changes to their lineup, sticking with the same team that faced the West Indies last month. They went in with three frontline spinners and two pacers, maintaining their formula that has served them well in recent times.
Playing XI
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara
New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Will Young, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitch Hay (WK), Josh Clarkson, Mitchell Santner (C), Ish Sodhi, Zakary Foulkes, Jacob Duffy
The visitors were reduced to 31 for 3 at the end of the powerplay. Tim Robinson was the first to go, castled by Dunith Wellalage off just the second ball he bowled. Nuwan Thushara had the better of Mark Chapman with a slower ball, and Chapman was holed out to backward square leg. Will Young was given out LBW for 19 off Maheesh Theekshana.
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New Zealand continued to slip further as Wanindu Hasaranga trapped the dangerous Glenn Phillips, and then Matheesha Pathirana struck twice in consecutive overs. Micheal Bracewell batted well for his 24-ball 27 before being well caught by deep mid-wicket fielder Kamindu Mendis off Thushara. Santner became Hasaranga’s second victim, leaving them at 96 for 8.
Zakary Foulkes and Ish Sodhi added a useful 39-run stand for the ninth wicket, the highest partnership in New Zealand’s innings. Sodhi contributed 10 runs before Wellalage bagged the final two wickets in successive deliveries, bowling the visitors out for 135 in 19.3 overs.
Foulkes, the top scorer, remained unbeaten on 27 off 16 balls. Wellalage was the pick of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, claiming 3 for 20, while Thushara and Hasaranga both took two wickets each.
In response, the hosts lost an early wicket with only 3 runs on the board when New Zealand’s skipper trapped Kusal Mendis for a 5-ball duck in the second over. Pathum Nissanka (19 off 14) and Kusal Perera (23 off 17) kept the momentum in Sri Lanka’s favour, putting together a quick-fire 40-run stand off just 22 balls.
However, Foulkes and Bracewell removed both set batters in two overs, reducing the islanders to 55 for 3 in 7 overs. Kamindu Mendis stroked 4 fours in his 23-run knock off 16 balls before being dismissed by Phillips. Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s stay at the crease was brief, and Sri Lanka were 5 down for 87.
Then, Asalanka and Hasaranga batted patiently, taking Sri Lanka closer to victory. However, their 38-run partnership was broken by Foulkes when only 11 runs were needed, as Hasaranga perished for 22. Wellalage hit the winning runs with a six over mid-wicket, guiding the hosts over the line with an over to spare.
Captain Asalanka remained unbeaten on 35 off 28 balls, striking one four and two sixes to lead Sri Lanka to a 4-wicket victory. On the bowling front, Foulkes was impressive for the visitors, taking 3 for 20 in three overs.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Robinson | b Dunith Wellalage | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Will Young | lbw b Maheesh Theekshana | 19 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Mark Chapman | c Wanindu Hasaranga b Nuwan Thushara | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16.67 |
| Glenn Phillips | lbw b Wanindu Hasaranga | 13 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Michael Bracewell | c Kamindu Mendis b Nuwan Thushara | 27 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 112.50 |
| Mitchell Hay | c Kusal Mendis b Matheesha Pathirana | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Josh Clarkson | c Kamindu Mendis b Matheesha Pathirana | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Mitchell Santner | st Kusal Mendis b Wanindu Hasaranga | 16 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Zakary Foulkes | not out | 27 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 168.75 |
| Ish Sodhi | c Charith Asalanka b Dunith Wellalage | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 111.11 |
| Jacob Duffy | c Kusal Mendis b Dunith Wellalage | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 16 (b 0 , lb 6 , nb 5, w 5, pen 0) |
| Total | 135/10 (19.3 Overs, RR: 6.92) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 5.25 | |
| Nuwan Thushara | 3 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 4.67 | |
| Dunith Wellalage | 3.3 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 6.06 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 5.00 | |
| Charith Asalanka | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 12.50 | |
| Matheesha Pathirana | 3 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 9.67 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | b Zakary Foulkes | 19 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 135.71 |
| Kusal Mendis | lbw b Mitchell Santner | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kusal Perera | lbw b Michael Bracewell | 23 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 135.29 |
| Kamindu Mendis | c Ish Sodhi b Glenn Phillips | 23 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 143.75 |
| Charith Asalanka | not out | 35 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 125.00 |
| Bhanuka Rajapakse | c Mitchell Hay b Zakary Foulkes | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | c Mitchell Santner b Zakary Foulkes | 22 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 95.65 |
| Dunith Wellalage | not out | 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 157.14 |
| Extras | 3 (b 0 , lb 1 , nb 0, w 2, pen 0) |
| Total | 140/6 (19 Overs, RR: 7.37) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Duffy | 4 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 7.25 | |
| Mitchell Santner | 4 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 7.50 | |
| Michael Bracewell | 4 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 7.75 | |
| Zakary Foulkes | 3 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 6.67 | |
| Ish Sodhi | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8.50 | |
| Glenn Phillips | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 6.00 | |
