Glenn Phillips took 3 for 6 and paceman Lockie Ferguson bowled a tidy spell with 3 for 7 as New Zealand fought back to record a thrilling 5-run win, with one ball to spare, over Sri Lanka, leveling the series 1-1 in the second T20 game played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 109, saw opener Pathum Nissanka fight hard with 52 off 51 balls. However, New Zealand bowlers fought back to bowl Sri Lanka out for 103, winning by 5 runs with one ball to spare.
Paceman Lockie Ferguson, who bowled only two overs, took a hat-trick, which was the turning point of the game. The final over, bowled by Glenn Phillips, took 3 wickets, including Nissanka, sealing the victory for New Zealand and leveling the series. Sri Lankan batters, except Nissanka, struggled in this second game, and both teams shared the honours of the series at Dambulla. Wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay contributed five catches and a stumping, the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a T20 game.
Ferguson was named Player of the Match, while Wanindu Hasaranga was adjudged Player of the Series.
Earlier, New Zealand was invited to bat first, but their openers Tim Robinson and Will Young were unable to get off to a good start. Robinson was dismissed for a duck off Nuwan Thushara’s yorker. Thushara struck again, removing Mark Chapman, who was caught by Kamindu Mendis at extra cover. New Zealand was at 6 for 2 after 2.1 overs.
Wanindu Hasaranga increased the pressure by taking two wickets in his first over, dismissing Glenn Phillips (4) and Michael Bracewell (0). New Zealand was 50 for 5 after ten overs. Despite a hamstring injury, Hasaranga completed his four overs, finishing with 4 for 17. Paceman Matheesha Pathirana troubled the Kiwis, taking 3 for 11. New Zealand was all out for 108 with 3 balls to spare. Will Young top-scored for New Zealand with 30 off 32 balls, while Mitchell Santner (19) and Josh Clarkson (24) made useful contributions.
Sri Lanka fielded an unchanged side, while New Zealand made one change, bringing in paceman Lockie Ferguson for Jacob Duffy. The game started 20 minutes late at 7:20 pm due to wet ground conditions, but the full quota of overs was bowled.
The two teams will meet again for the first ODI of the three-match series on November 13 at Dambulla.
