Duffy, Hay fire as New Zealand take series victory

New Zealand have picked up a comprehensive victory in the second T20I against Sri Lanka at Bay Oval off some solid batting followed up by Jacob Duffy putting on a clinic with the ball.

Once again New Zealand found themselves batting first and they lost Rachin Ravindra early for one, falling to Nuwan Thushara. Ravindra’s position in the side is potentially looking doubtful after failing in the first T20I.

A composed innings from opener, Wellingtonian Tim Robinson (41) allowed the New Zealanders to be going around the eight runs over a mark for the majority of their innings.

Combined with Mark Chapman (42) the pair put on a 69 run second wicket stand, to leave the Kiwis in a much better position at the halfway stage of 86/2. Wanindu Hasaranga got the last laugh against Robinson, after he took six runs off the first ball of the Sri Lankan’s second over but was bowled the following ball.

Glenn Phillips and Chapman did try and get the game moving in an effort to up the run rate, but perished not long after each other. Chapman fell to Hasaranga, stumped by Kusal Mendis whilst Phillips was caught off Matheesha Pathirana for 23.

Daryl Mitchell wasn’t quite able to replicate his innings from the first T20I as he fell to Binura Fernando for 18.

A clinical and quick 41 not out from just 19 balls at the end of the innings by wicket-keeper batter Mitch Hay left New Zealand with 186/5 on the board. 

Sri Lanka quickly raced out to 32/0 from the first four overs, but the innings was quickly halted by captain Mitch Santner as he struck with his first ball to have Mendis on his way for 10.

Pathum Nissanka looked to carry on his form from the first match and alongside Kusal Perera the pair got Sri Lanka well into the game, which the New Zealand bowlers seemed to have no real answer to.

However, Duffy struck to have Nissanka out for 27 and Michael Bracewell soon had Sri Lanka three down when he had Kamindu Mendis caught on the boundary for seven.

Captain Charith Asalanka and Perera struck overs of 12, eight, and nine to leave the visitors with 60 runs needed from the last five overs.

Continued wickets by New Zealand over the last five overs halted Sri Lanka’s innings as they lost seven wickets for just 14 runs.

This effort was led by Duffy who picked up figures of 4/15 and two wickets each to Henry and Santer as the New Zealanders took a comprehensive 45 run victory to take the series win with one game to spare.