New Zealand hand Sri Lanka another loss to end miserable tour
Sri Lanka ended a miserable tour to New Zealand when they lost by 35 runs to the hosts in a one-off T20I in Auckland on Friday.
Batting first after Sri Lanka had won the toss, New Zealand were in trouble as they slipped to 55/5 after 10 overs with visiting seamers Kasun Rajitha and Lasith Malinga both taking two wickets apiece.
Doug Bracewell, who made his last international appearance more a year ago, rescued the hosts with 44 off 26 balls while debutant Scott Kuggeleijn struck 35 not out off 23 deliveries to lift the Black Caps to 179/7.
Rajitha ended up with figures of 3-44 while Malinga took 2-24.
Sri Lanka faulted badly in the run-chase with home fast bowler Lockie Ferguson taking 3-21 as the tourists were bowled out for just 144 inside 17 overs.
Only Thisara Perera, with 43, put up a semblance of a fight with the willow but after Ferguson’s burst leg-spinner Ish Sodhi (3-30) wrapped up the lower-order.
The defeat caps a rather forgettable tour for the Asian side as they lost the two-match Test series 1-0 and were whitewashed in the three ODI matches.
Latest
-
EnglandLiam Livingstone praises England spinner Rehan Ahmed as ‘exceptional talent’
Ahmed has furthered his blossoming reputation against the West Indies by recording identical figures of 10-1-40-2 in two ODIs in Antigua.
-
EnglandLittle bit of relief – Sam Curran and England bounce back in Antigua
Curran laid the groundwork for England’s six-wicket win.
-
EnglandSam Curran and Jos Buttler return to form as England level series in Antigua
Chasing 203, Will Jacks put England into the ascendancy with a sparkling 73 off 72 balls.
-
EnglandSam Curran finds form as England bowl out West Indies for 202
Curran took three big scalps days after enduring a tough time in the first ODI.
-
EnglandAndrew Flintoff set to return to England’s backroom staff for Windies T20 series
Flintoff first linked up with the national side in an unpaid role for ODI series against New Zealand and Ireland before the World Cup.
-
Women's CricketDanni Wyatt stars on 150th T20I appearance as England begin India tour with win
Sophie Ecclestone returned figures of three for 15 on her comeback appearance after four months out with a shoulder injury.
-
EnglandHarry Brook blocks himself from ‘negativity’ by withdrawing from social media
Brook has left the running of his X and Instagram accounts to someone else.
-
Women's CricketSophie Ecclestone set for England return in T20 opener in India – Heather Knight
The world’s top-ranked limited-overs bowler underwent surgery after dislocating her shoulder in August.
-
EnglandRehan Ahmed rejects Sir Alastair Cook’s criticism of Jos Buttler’s captaincy
Several of Buttler’s decisions were scrutinised during a calamitous World Cup defence.
-
Women's CricketMaia Bouchier and Danielle Gibson handed their first central contracts by ECB
England Women have once again issued 18 full-time deals.