Pathum Nissanka’s valiant efforts went in vain as New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by eight runs in the first T20I at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
After being asked to bat first, New Zealand put up a decent score of 172 for the loss of eight wickets. It was the pair of Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell that helped the Black Caps stage a comeback. At 65 for five in 9.5 overs, the hosts looked in all sorts of trouble. But Mitchell and Bracewell put on 105 runs for the sixth wicket to put the Kiwis in a decent position.
Mitchell threw his bat around to score 62 off 42, laced with four fours and two sixes. Bracewell smacked four fours and as many sixes on his way to scoring an unbeaten 59 off 33. Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga took two wickets apiece.
Matheesha Pathirana took one wicket, but leaked 60 runs in his quota of four overs. For New Zealand, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Hay failed to go past single digits.
Sri Lanka made a thunderous start to their run-chase, making 56 runs in the powerplay without losing a single wicket. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis put on 121 runs for the opening wicket off 13.3 overs. However, with 52 runs needed off 39 balls, the Sri Lankan batting capitulated.
Jacob Duffy gave New Zealand their first breakthrough after dismissing Mendis, who scored 46 runs off 36 balls with six fours and a six. Nissanka kept the innings going with a quick-fire half-century off 34 balls. He went on to play until the penultimate over, but his efforts went in vain.
Nissanka scored 90 runs off 60 balls with seven fours and three sixes before Matt Henry dismissed him. With 20 runs needed off the last 10 deliveries, Sri Lanka could not hold their nerves. Duffy was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with three wickets, while Henry and Zakary Foulkes took two wickets apiece.
