Sri Lanka secured a nail-biting 22-run victory over New Zealand in a thrilling T20 International at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday evening. The hosts, batting first, posted a competitive total of 195 for 6 in their 20 overs, with captain Dasun Shanaka smashing an unbeaten 68 off 37 balls. In response, the Black Caps fell short at 173 all out, despite a valiant 72 from skipper Kane Williamson. The match, part of a three-game series, witnessed a record-breaking crowd of 18,000 spectators, setting a new attendance record for a T20 International in Sri Lanka. The second match of the series is scheduled for Friday at the same venue.
Sri Lanka Edges New Zealand in Nail-Biting T20 Encounter
Sri Lanka secured a dramatic 22-run victory over New Zealand in a thrilling T20 international at Pallekele. The hosts posted a challenging 191-7 after being put into bat, with Wanindu Hasaranga top-scoring with 56 not out.
New Zealand’s chase faltered despite a spirited 43 from Mark Chapman. The Black Caps were restricted to 169-9, with Sri Lanka’s spinners proving decisive. Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana each took three wickets to turn the game in Sri Lanka’s favour.
The match featured several key moments, including a crucial 69-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Hasaranga and Chamika Karunaratne. New Zealand’s early wickets, including that of captain Kane Williamson for 12, proved costly.
Sri Lanka’s victory evens the three-match series at 1-1, with the decisive match scheduled for tomorrow. The hosts will look to maintain their momentum, while New Zealand aims to bounce back from this narrow defeat. Both teams will be aware of the importance of the final encounter in determining the series outcome.
Ravindra's Heroics Propel Sri Lanka to Victory
Sri Lanka secured a thrilling 22-run victory over New Zealand in their T20 international clash at Pallekele. Ravindra’s heroic all-round performance, 68 runs and 3 wickets, earned him the Player of the Match award. The match ended with Sri Lanka posting 185/6, while New Zealand fell short at 163/9.
Ravindra’s explosive innings of 68 runs off 48 balls set the tone for Sri Lanka’s competitive total. His three crucial wickets, including the dismissal of New Zealand’s top-scorer Martin Guptill (42), turned the tide in Sri Lanka’s favour. The home team’s bowling attack, led by Ravindra, restricted New Zealand to 163/9 in their 20 overs.
Sri Lanka’s skipper Dasun Shanaka praised Ravindra’s match-winning performance. “He’s a special talent,” Shanaka said post-match. “His ability to contribute with both bat and ball is invaluable to our team.” New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson acknowledged Sri Lanka’s superior performance. “They outplayed us today,” Williamson admitted. “Credit to Ravindra, he was exceptional.”
The match witnessed several key moments, including Guptill’s aggressive innings and Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling display. Despite a late flurry of wickets, New Zealand’s chase fell short of the required target. Sri Lanka’s victory marks a significant boost ahead of their upcoming series.
New Zealand Falls Short Despite Strong Chase
Sri Lanka secured a dramatic 22-run victory over New Zealand in a thrilling T20 international at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. The hosts fell agonisingly short despite a spirited chase, finishing on 171 for 7 in their 20 overs.
Chasing a target of 193, New Zealand’s innings got off to a disastrous start with the team reduced to 18 for 3 in the powerplay. Captain Kane Williamson top-scored with 40 off 32 balls, but his efforts proved insufficient to steer the team to victory.
Sri Lanka’s innings was built on a solid foundation by openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, who put on 87 runs for the first wicket. Nissanka top-scored with 61 off 45 balls, while Mendis contributed 42 off 31 deliveries.
The Sri Lankan bowlers then put up a disciplined performance, with Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana picking up two wickets each. Theekshana was particularly impressive, conceding just 14 runs in his four overs.
New Zealand’s chase was derailed by some tight bowling from the Sri Lankan side, with the visitors unable to accelerate in the later overs. Despite a late flurry from Glenn Phillips, who scored 33 off 16 balls, the Kiwis fell short in the end.
Sri Lanka’s victory marks a significant turnaround after their recent struggles in the format. The win also sees them climb to the top of the ICC T20 rankings, overtaking India.
Sri Lanka's Bowlers Shine Under Pressure
Sri Lanka secured a thrilling 22-run victory over New Zealand in their T20 international clash at Pallekele. The hosts posted a competitive 172-7, with Wanindu Hasaranga top-scoring with 46 off 32 balls. In reply, New Zealand fell short at 150-9, despite a late flurry from Mark Chapman’s 33 not out.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers delivered under pressure, with Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga sharing six wickets between them. Theekshana claimed 3-25, while Hasaranga took 3-31, both bowling with impressive economy rates. Their tight lines and clever variations stifled the New Zealand batsmen throughout the innings.
New Zealand’s chase began brightly, with Devon Conway and Martin Guptill putting on 45 for the first wicket. However, the dismissal of Guptill for 22, caught by Hasaranga off Theekshana, shifted the momentum. Sri Lanka’s spinners then tightened the screws, with Hasaranga and Jeffrey Vandersay combining for three wickets in four overs.
Despite the late resistance from Chapman and James Neesham, New Zealand’s required run rate climbed too steeply. The visitors needed 30 off the final two overs but could only manage 22, handing Sri Lanka a memorable victory. The win levels the three-match series at 1-1, with the decider to be played on 30 July.
T20 Clash Ends in Dramatic Fashion
Sri Lanka secured a dramatic 22-run victory over New Zealand in a thrilling T20 clash at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The hosts posted a competitive 185-8 in their 20 overs, with Wanindu Hasaranga top-scoring with 44 runs off 28 balls. In reply, New Zealand fell short at 163-9, despite a late flurry from Mark Chapman who scored 42 not out off 19 balls.
Sri Lanka’s innings featured a crucial partnership between Hasaranga and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who contributed 32 runs before being dismissed in the 18th over. The New Zealand bowling attack was led by Tim Southee, who took 3-28 in his four overs. Sri Lanka’s bowling unit then put on a clinical performance, with Dushmantha Chameera and Maheesh Theekshana each taking two wickets.
The turning point came in the 16th over of New Zealand’s innings when Chameera dismissed captain Kane Williamson for 35. Williamson’s wicket exposed New Zealand’s middle order, and despite Chapman’s late resistance, the visitors couldn’t maintain the required run rate. Sri Lanka’s victory was their third consecutive win in the series, putting them in a strong position ahead of the final match.
Sri Lanka secured a dramatic 22-run victory over New Zealand in their T20 international at Pallekele. The hosts, batting first, posted a competitive 174-6, with Wanindu Hasaranga top-scoring with 44. In reply, New Zealand fell short at 152-9, despite a spirited effort from Glenn Phillips, who scored 55. The win marks Sri Lanka’s third consecutive victory in the series, giving them a 3-0 lead. The teams will meet again in the third and final match on Sunday, with New Zealand aiming to avoid a whitewash.
