SCORECARDCOMMENTARY
NZ WON
T20
NZ beat SL by 9 wickets
Man of the Match - Adam Milne
SL
141-10
19.0/20 Ovrs
146-1
14.4/20 Ovrs
NZ
Sri Lanka in New Zealand, 3 T20I Series, 2023 |2nd T20I |4/5/2023
University Oval, Dunedin
University Oval, Dunedin
Commentary
- Right then. That's it from the coverage of this game. New Zealand have restricted the visitors to take an unassailable lead in this series. That means it is all to play for in the final and the third T20I match. It will be played on 8th April, Saturday. The first ball will be at 6.30 am IST (1 am GMT). You can join us early for the build-up as well. Until then, take care and goodbye.
- Adam Milne wins the MAN OF THE MATCH award for his five-wicket haul. He truly deserves it.
- Earlier in the innings, Sri Lanka got off to a solid start with the bat, at the end of Powerplay they were 50/2. Later, Kusal Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva stabled the innings with a handy partnership. Although, both slipped out in quick succession. Charith Asalanka got off to a good start but hardly found any support from the other end. It was more of a collapse for the visitors. Adam Milne was the star with the ball for New Zealand with his five-wicket haul, but it wouldn't have been possible without the spinners, who came in and controlled the run flow in the middle over. All the bowlers did their part for New Zealand.
- Sri Lanka will be heading back to the drawing board. They have a lot of things to work on when it comes to bowling. They were defending a below-par on this batting paradise of a wicket. To make it worse, the bowlers conceded too many extras in this match. 16, to be precise. Kasun Rajitha was the lone wicket-taker. Although, it is Maheesh Theekshana who stood out with the ball for his economical spell.
- Phew! It was rather a one-way traffic at the chase. New Zealand were off to a flying start, thanks to Chad Bowes who was only dealing in boundaies. He set the tone of this innings, all this while, Tim Seifert was happy to play the second-fiddle. Although, once the opening stand was broken, Tim Seifert took the express route himself, and went beserk with the bat. He stomped his authority with his half-century, which eventually turned into a match-winning knock. Tom Latham, the skipper played a solid supporting role from the get go. All in all, it was a covincing chase for the hosts.
- New Zealand level the series, that too, with a commanding win over Sri Lanka. Tim Seifert put up a solid batting show on display and has helped his side to get over the line in a match where the series was hanging on the line.
- 14.46Dhananjaya de Silva to Tim Seifert, SIX! Tim Seifert finishes things off in style! Dhananjaya de Silva floats this one up, full and on middle, Tim Seifert goes down and uses his muscles to reverse-sweep it over the deep extra cover fence for another biggie. NEW ZEALAND WIN BY 9 WICKETS AND LEVEL THE SERIES!
- 14.36Dhananjaya de Silva to Tim Seifert, SIX! Tim Seifert sends this one way into the stands! This is tossed up, full and on middel and leg, Tim Seifert clears his front leg out of the way and smashes it over the deep square leg fence for a maximum. Also, the 100-run partnership comes up between these two batters.
- 14.22Dhananjaya de Silva to Tim Seifert, Flatter, full and on off, Tim Seifert goes for the switch-hit again and lofts it towards wide long off for a brace.
- 14.14Dhananjaya de Silva to Tim Seifert, FOUR! Brilliant shot! Dhananjaya de Silva comes around the wicket and lands this short and on middle, Tim Seifert switches his stance and heaves it towards the deep point fence for a boundary.
- END OF OVER 14 | 7 Runs & 0 Wkt | NZ 128/1
- Dhananjaya de Silva (1-0-13-0) comes back into the attack now.
- 13.61Wanindu Hasaranga to Tim Seifert, Fuller, on middle. Tim Seifert gets low and sweeps it to deep mid-wicket. One taken.
- 13.51Wanindu Hasaranga to Tom Latham, Quicker and full, on the pads. Tom Latham flicks it to square leg for one.
- 13.41Wanindu Hasaranga to Tim Seifert, A single now as this is worked down to long off.
- 13.32Wanindu Hasaranga to Tim Seifert, Short and on off. Tim Seifert cuts it to the sweeper cover for a brace.
- 13.22Wanindu Hasaranga to Tim Seifert, Tough chance! Almost takes a stunner. Back of a length, wide of off. Tim Seifert rocks back and flays through the line. The ball goes high towards sweeper covers. Pathum Nissanka dives to his right, gets fingertips on it, but the ball spills out. He does all the hardword but in vain.
- 13.10Wanindu Hasaranga to Tim Seifert, Tim Seifert cuts this short ball to extra covers.
- END OF OVER 13 | 3 Runs & 0 Wkt | NZ 121/1
- 12.61Maheesh Theekshana to Tim Seifert, Goes full, on the pads. Tim Seifert tucks it towards mid on and crosses.
- 12.51lbMaheesh Theekshana to Tom Latham, LEG BYE! Full, sliding down leg. It goes to square leg off his pads. They cross for a leg bye.
- 12.40Maheesh Theekshana to Tom Latham, Maheesh Theekshana fires in a full ball, at a yorker length, just outside off. It is angled in as well. Tom Latham tries to defend it out but gets beaten.
- 12.30Maheesh Theekshana to Tom Latham, Full and outside off. Tom Latham goes after it but misses.
- 12.20Maheesh Theekshana to Tom Latham, Floated and full, on off. Tom Latham reverse sweeps it to short third man.
- 12.11Maheesh Theekshana to Tim Seifert, Fuller, on leg. Tim Seifert flicks it to the leg side for a single.