NZ vs SL: Nissanka-Mendis Century Partnership Falls Short as Late Collapse Leads to 8-Run Defeat for Sri Lanka
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Mount Maunganui, Dec 28 (NationPress) A dramatic late batting collapse from Sri Lanka resulted in New Zealand securing a nail-biting eight-run victory in the opening match of the three-game T20I series held at the Bay Oval on Saturday. The 121-run opening partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis went unrewarded, thanks to exceptional death bowling from Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, and Zakary Foulkes.
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field first in this T20I series opener, demonstrating their dominance over the Black Caps in the initial overs.
Tim Robinson (11) was the first wicket to fall, caught and bowled by Binura Fernando in the fourth over. Robinson’s opening partner, Rachin Ravindra (8), quickly followed him back to the pavilion after edging the ball into Mendis's grasp just three balls later.
Mark Chapman attempted to clear the boundary in the first over following the Power-play but ended up providing Kamindu Mendis with a catch at backward square. The situation worsened for the hosts as Glenn Phillips (8) and Mitchell Hay (0) were both trapped LBW in consecutive deliveries by Wanindu Hasaranga during the tenth over, leaving them struggling at 65/5.
Daryl Mitchell (62) and Michael Bracewell (59) came to the rescue for the Black Caps, forming a 105-run partnership—the highest ever for the sixth wicket by New Zealand in T20Is—which lifted the team to a competitive total. Both were dismissed by Maheesh Theekshana in the final over, but they had already set a hefty target of 173 for Sri Lanka.
Nissanka (90) and Mendis (40) had the visitors in control, and it appeared they would comfortably chase the target until Mendis edged a bouncer from Duffy in the 14th over, which was easily caught by wicket-keeper Hay. Kusal Perera (0) and Kamindu Mendis (0) fell victim to consecutive deliveries in the same over, triggering a major collapse.
Despite Nissanka's valiant efforts, the Sri Lankan batting lineup continued to lose wickets, with no other batter reaching double digits.
The game was effectively sealed for New Zealand when Nissanka was dismissed in the 19th over, leaving Sri Lanka ending their innings disappointingly at 164/8.
Brief score:
New Zealand 172/8 in 20 overs (Daryl Mitchell 62, Michael Bracewell 59; Binura Fernando 2-22) defeated Sri Lanka 164/8 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 90, Kusal Mendis 40; Jacob Duffy 3-21) by eight runs.
