A captain’s knock by Charith Asalanka steered Sri Lanka to a hard-fought four-wicket victory over New Zealand with six balls to spare in Saturday’s T20I opener in Dambulla. Chasing a modest 136 to win, Sri Lanka’s batsman struggled to capitalise towards the second-string visiting staff. However an important 38-run stand for the sixth wicket between Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga steadied the ship and inched the staff to victory. “General it’s a good win,” Asalanka stated. “We must always have restricted them to 110 or 120 however they did nicely with the decrease order.”
The stand was damaged when Hasaranga went for an enormous shot off Zakary Foulkes however fell brief, caught at mid-on by Kiwi captain Mitchell Santner and departing for 22.
Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, who took three of New Zealand’s wickets after the vacationers opted to bat, sealed Sri Lanka’s win in type when he pulled Jacob Duffy for a six over mid-wicket.
Asalanka completed unbeaten on a well-judged 35 off 28 balls.
New Zealand’s below-par complete had given Sri Lanka some respiration room.
High-order batsman Kusal Perera etched his title within the document books, surpassing Tillakaratne Dilshan to turn out to be Sri Lanka’s highest run-scorer in T20s together with his quickfire 23 off 17 balls.
New Zealand’s 135 all out was the third-lowest complete in T20Is in Dambulla.
“It’s a problem to regulate to circumstances,” Santner stated.
“At midway we felt that we are able to defend it however a few partnerships took it away from us.”
“We had been anticipating 160 after profitable the toss however the dew settled in and it was arduous to carry the ball and that is most likely meals for thought tomorrow.”
Contemporary from a commanding red-ball collection win in India, the vacationers arrived within the island nation lacking Tom Blundell, Rachin Ravindra and different stalwarts who’re resting for an upcoming Check battle towards England.
All-rounder Michael Bracewell confirmed some battle with 27 off 24, together with two fours and a six.
New Zealand managed to go previous 100 after a gutsy 39-run stand for the ninth wicket between Ish Sodhi and Foulkes.
Foulkes, joint top-scorer with 27 off 16, hit a 4 and a six to assist the Kiwis salvage some pleasure earlier than Sodhi’s departure on 10 within the closing over.
New Zealand handed a debut to wicketkeeper-batsman Mitchell Hay, who was caught off a Matheesha Pathirana supply on his second ball for nought.
The second and closing match of the collection is on the identical venue on Sunday.
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