Sri Lanka take victory in third T20I

Sri Lanka has taken victory in the third T20I off the back of Kusal Perera’s maiden T20I century.

Having elected to field first, there was some early success for the New Zealand bowlers as Pathum Nissanka was caught by an excellent run back catch on the boundary by wicket-keeper Mitch Hay for 14.

Whilst the visitors did get a fast start, it was mainly down to Kusal Perera and support from Kamindu Mendis, who fell for 22 in the fifth over to Mitchell Santner.

The New Zealanders did manage to keep the wickets coming at intervals throughout the first ten overs with Avishka Fernando falling leg before wicket to Jacob Duffy for 17 in the tenth over.

From the 10th over to the 17th over it was all about the Sri Lankan batters of Charith Asalanka and Perera who took to the New Zealand bowling attack.

Multiple overs went for well over ten whilst the 15th went for 22 off Mitchell Sannter with Asalanka smoking two sixes.

Dropped catches throughout the innings didn’t help for the Kiwis but Glenn Phillips did manage to hold onto Asalanka’s wicket to have him on his way for 26.

However, the visitors ensured that momentum stayed with them as Perera took 23 off Henry’s 18th over as he brought up his century from just 44 balls.

Perera went on to make a 101 from 46 balls, being dismissed by Daryl Mitchell in the penultimate over.

Tight bowling by Mitchell and Duffy in the final two overs, only going for six each, meant that the home team would require 219 to win.

The New Zealanders got off to a rocking start with Rachin Ravindra (69) and Tim Robinson (37) providing the runs up the top.

Robinson’s dismissal by Binura Fernando in the eighth over did lead to a couple of quick wickets for Sri Lanka with Asalanka grabbing Mark Chapman (9) and Phillips (6).

Ravindra made his second T20I 50 coming from 29 balls and worked well alongside Mitchell (35) to keep the Kiwis above the run rate at times.

However, just as Ravindra looked to keep pushing on he was bowled by Asalanka for 69 from 39 balls.

A 25 run 15th over by Mitchell, included four sixes of Asalanka as the Kiwis started to gain some serious momentum.

Wanindu Hasaranga managed to get Mitch Hay bowled for eight and then had Michael Bracewell for one followed up by Nuwan Thushara getting Mitchell to leave the New Zealanders in real trouble.

Foulkes and Santner tried their best to get the New Zealand side over the line but even though they took 28 runs from the final two overs, they still couldn’t make the required 219 with Sri Lanka winning by seven runs.

Sri Lanka’s victory meant that New Zealand won the series 2-1.