New Zealand v Sri Lanka, 2015-16
Wisden's review of the first Twenty20 International, New Zealand v Sri Lanka, 2015-16
15-Apr-2016
At Mount Maunganui, January 7, 2016. New Zealand won by three runs. Toss: Sri Lanka. Twenty20 international debut: M. D. Gunathilleke.
With nearly 8,000 crammed in, the gates were closed at the Bay Oval. New Zealand - ranked a lowly eighth in the format, while Sri Lanka were first - reached 182, mainly thanks to an opening stand of 101 between Guptill and Williamson, although the later batsmen failed to capitalise. Henry and Boult took two early wickets apiece, reducing Sri Lanka to 42 for four after five overs, but Gunathilleke and Siriwardene kept blazing away. It boiled down to 13 off the last over, which was entrusted to Elliott, making an international comeback after breaking his arm in the nets in November. But Kulasekara slogged the third ball to deep midwicket, Kapugedera was run out, and New Zealand hung on.
Man of the Match: T. A. Boult.
With nearly 8,000 crammed in, the gates were closed at the Bay Oval. New Zealand - ranked a lowly eighth in the format, while Sri Lanka were first - reached 182, mainly thanks to an opening stand of 101 between Guptill and Williamson, although the later batsmen failed to capitalise. Henry and Boult took two early wickets apiece, reducing Sri Lanka to 42 for four after five overs, but Gunathilleke and Siriwardene kept blazing away. It boiled down to 13 off the last over, which was entrusted to Elliott, making an international comeback after breaking his arm in the nets in November. But Kulasekara slogged the third ball to deep midwicket, Kapugedera was run out, and New Zealand hung on.
Man of the Match: T. A. Boult.