New Zealand’s seamers were responsible for a second consecutive collapse by Sri Lanka. This sent the tourists tumbling in the very first few overs of their innings and ultimately led to them being bowled out for 157 runs. Then, despite New Zealand’s early struggles of their own, they marched easily to the goal, reaching it in 33 overs to win the series 2-0.
Will Young be able to keep the pursuit together from position 3, resulting in an unruffled 86 not out. Despite the fact that wickets were lost at the other end. He maintained his composure until Henry Nicholls joined him. Together, the two of them added 100 runs for the fifth wicket, with Nicholls scoring 44 runs undefeated.
As a result of Sri Lanka’s fifth straight defeat (in completed matches) and their seventh loss in eight games, it is now certain that they will not be directly qualifying for this year’s World Cup. This loss also brings their overall losing streak to seven. Instead, they will have to compete in the qualifying series that will take place in Zimbabwe in the middle of the year in order to win their spot. The New Zealand One-Day International team now has 175 points, which has allowed them to solidify their place at the top of the ODI Super League standings.
The Matt Henry Spell
However, it was Matt Henry who established the tone for the match. He started the collapse by dismissing two of Sri Lanka’s top three batsmen, and then he went on to post figures of 3 for 14 from his 10 overs. Matt Henry was the player who set the tone for the contest. As a result of the bounce that the New Zealand seamers were creating, the batsmen for Sri Lanka once again had a difficult time navigating the strike. Henry Shipley and Daryl Mitchell each claimed three wickets each.
But then, players like Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva fell victim to the bowling of all-rounder Mitchell. Both of these players attempted leg side strokes, but they failed to account for the additional bounce in the pitch. Both Asalanka and de Silva had leading edges that ended up in the clutches of the fielders at mid-off and deep midwicket, respectively. When they were eventually defeated, Sri Lanka’s score was 70 for 5 in the 19th over.
Pathum Nisanka show
Sri Lanka’s best innings came from Pathum Nissanka, who made 57 runs off of 64 balls and reversed two “out” calls in the first ten overs. While Sri Lanka lost wickets regularly at the other end. Nissanka took advantage of a few of poor deliveries early on and then went quiet for the rest of the power play. After the first six overs failed to produce a boundary and lost three wickets. He pulled Shipley for six in the tenth over as a manner of easing pressure.
As soon as he reaches his sixth half-century in his career, he was dismissing for a zero in the following over. Nissanka originally intended to hit a short single to cover. But he changed his mind and tried to send non-striker Shanaka back to his crease. Nissanka hesitated, but there was no way he could catch up to Shanaka who continued to advance.
Sri Lanka’s lower middle order put up a short fight thanks to Shanaka (31 runs) and Chamika Karunaratne (24 runs). But they were unable to put together innings of adequate size. Within 42 overs, Sri Lanka had been bowled out.
Young reached 20 runs off 36 balls when fielding limitations were in effect. Because he remained patient after coming to the crease in the second over and striking just three really awful deliveries to the boundary. Even after Tom Latham’s dismissal left New Zealand with 59/4. And a narrow window for Sri Lanka, he was calm during the early middle overs.
Young and Nicholls Partnership
At first fraught, Young and Nicholls’ combination soon settled into a rhythm of collecting risk-free runs into the outfield. Nicholls was given out lbw on 1. Young’s pull shot off Kumara’s bowling fell just short of the deep fielder.
Batting became simpler as the game progressed. And soon New Zealand was loping towards their objective with both batsmen finding boundaries. Off the 71st ball he faced, Young reached his half-century by edging Lahiru Kumara to the straight boundary. This was his third time reaching 50, with both previous occasions yielding centuries. With the last hit of the game, the duo reached a century stand.
Lahiru Kumara had been the most effective of Sri Lanka’s bowlers. Having got rid of Chad Bowes and Tom Blundell in the same over. Thanks to nicks to the wicketkeeper. New Zealand was down to their last three players. A score of 21 after Kasun Rajitha caught Mitchell edging in the seventh over.
However, the hosts made it through that difficult time because to Young’s leadership.
