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Kusal Perera scored Sri Lanka’s quickest T20I century — from 44 balls — on Thursday to spur his group to a comfort win over New Zealand by seven runs within the closing sport of the three-match collection.
Perera’s career-best rating in a century partnership with captain Charith Asalanka lifted Sri Lanka to 218 for 5 — its second-highest T20 rating, because it batted first for the primary time within the collection.
New Zealand held a successful 2-0 lead within the collection after successful the primary match by eight runs and the second by 45 runs.
New Zealand wanted to attain its highest run chase in T20s to finish a clear sweep of the collection and was given an excellent begin by Rachin Ravindra who made 69 from 39 balls. However it fell simply quick, held to 211 for seven.
The Black Caps started at a tempo to match Sri Lanka, reaching 60-0 within the six-over energy play. However Asalanka slammed the brakes on the New Zealand innings when he dismissed Ravindra, Mark Chapman (9) and Glenn Phillips (6) in fast succession.
Asalanka had figures of three for 25 after these dismissals however Daryl Mitchell hit 4 consecutive sixes from his closing over to wreck his evaluation and bat New Zealand again into the sport.
New Zealand group members pose for a photograph as they gained the T20 collection after the third T20 match.
| Picture Credit score:
AP
New Zealand group members pose for a photograph as they gained the T20 collection after the third T20 match.
| Picture Credit score:
AP
Wanindu Hasaranga then dismissed Mitchell Hay (8) and Michael Bracewell (1) within the sixteenth over to tip the match again within the guests’ favor. Asalanka took an excellent diving catch to take away Bracewell and managed his bowlers properly in an excellent all-round efficiency.
“I think it’s a good win for us,” Asalanka stated. “I think throughout the series we’ve played good cricket but couldn’t manage to get a win. Finally we got it. I hope this is a momentum shift for us. Adapting to these conditions has been a key for us.”
New Zealand got here to the final over, bowled by Binura Fernando, needing 22 to win. After taking six runs from the primary three balls, certainly one of which was a large, Zak Foulkes hit the fourth ball for six, leaving New Zealand needing 10 from the final two balls.
It was an excessive amount of and the New Zealand batters managed solely three extra runs.
The beginning of the match was delayed by half-hour by a moist outfield and when it started Sri Lanka misplaced the toss however had the prospect to bat first on an excellent pitch at Saxton Oval.
The vacationers misplaced each openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, contained in the PowerPlay.
However Perera powered up the Sri Lanka innings in an excellent batting efficiency, hitting 13 fours and 4 sixes in his 101 from 46 balls.
One of many keys to victory was the 75 runs Perera and Asalanka hit between the 14th and 18th overs which proved very important in making the run chase simply an excessive amount of for New Zealand.
The groups meet within the first of three ODIs in Wellington on Sunday.
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