Kiwis no match for Sri Lanka in Pallekele

Cricket365
November 21, 2013

Sri Lanka won the T20 series against New Zealand one nil on Thursday, recording an eight-wicket win over the Black Caps in the second game in Pallekele after the first was rained out earlier in the week.

The Kiwis failed to record a meaningful total, making 142 for seven in their 20 overs thanks to a late cameo from Luke Ronchi. The hosts chased that down with 13 balls to spare, thanks to half tons from Tillakaratne Dilshan (59*) and Kusal Perera (57).

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first, and handing a debut to bowler Ramith Rambukwella. His first ODI wicket was that of Tom Latham who had made 20 before being caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Prior to that though, the Black Caps had gotten off to a poor start, losing Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom within the first 14 runs. Rutherford was out for three to Nuwan Kulasekara, while Broom fell to Angelo Mathews for six.

Latham and Anton Devcich then set about trying to rescue the innings with a partnership of 35, before Devcich departed in the eighth over for 30 off 23 balls. He was caught by Kulasekara off Ajantha Mendis.

The Kiwis' top-scorer was wicketkeeper Ronchi, who ended the innings on 34 not out off 25 balls, having put on a stand of 45 with Nathan McCullum at a rate of nearly 10 to the over.

The hosts' chase was dominated by the partnership between Dilshan and Kusal, with the pair coming together to put on 96 runs after Mahela Jayawardene was trapped LBW for three by Mitchell McClenaghan.

Both batsmen recorded half centuries, with Kusal the more prolific scorer during the stand, though he was the one to break it. He was out for 57 off just 37 balls, caught and bowled by Rob Nicol, leaving Dilshan and Sangakkara to wrap up the knock.

Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ramith Rambukwella, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis

New Zealand: Hamish Rutherford, Anton Devcich, Neil Broom, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi (wk), Rob Nicol, Nathan McCullum, Andrew Ellis, Kyle Mills (capt), Mitchell McClenaghan