RESULT
1st T20I, Mount Maunganui, January 07, 2016, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand
(20 ov, T:183) 179/9

New Zealand won by 3 runs

Player Of The Match
3/21
trent-boult
New
SL
Full commentary
end of over 209 runs • 2 wickets
SL: 179/9CRR: 8.95 
Jeffrey Vandersay4 (1b 1x4)
Suranga Lakmal1 (1b)
Grant Elliott 2-0-18-1
Mitchell McClenaghan 4-0-40-0

6.20 pm New Zealand lead the two-match series 1-0 after defending 184. The game was set up for them by a blistering century opening stand between Guptill and Williamson, both of whom made half-centuries. New Zealand looked set for 200 plus before Sri Lanka pulled it back in the end.

However, a glut of wickets inside the Powerplay severely hurt Sri Lanka's chase. They carried on scoring briskly and were always abreast with the asking rate but eventually the regular fall of wickets took its toll and they fell just short.

kyle: "oh my golly gosh SRI LANKA how did you lose that one."

Chamath: "It's tough being a Sri Lankan cricket fan. Losing games from a winning position is really disappointing." Comes with the territory, Chamath. Gunathilaka and Siriwardana played really well, ones to watch in the year ahead.

Tim has the final word on that singles debate: "If SL had gotten 5 singles instead of dropping those extra 5 wickets (compared to NZ's 4) they'd have won."

Big_G: "NZ almost gave it away with wides and no-balls. Must get more accuracy for 2nd T20."

Dan: "Grant Elliott is in the team as NZ's finisher it would seem. The last over is his job, with bat or ball."

Trent Boult is Man of the Match for his 3 for 21 in four overs.

Thank you for reading, and for your emails today. Do join us for the second T20 international on Sunday. Same bat time, same bat channel. Cheers.

19.6
4
Elliott to Vandersay, FOUR runs

Elliott does not overstep, so New Zealand will win by three runs, despite Vandersay's deft move across the stumps to paddle the ball to the fine leg boundary

19.5
1
Elliott to Lakmal, 1 run

the slower ball outside off stump, mis-timed off the back foot to cover and that should be the game

Lakmal is the last man, Sri Lanka need 9 off two balls.

19.4
1W
Elliott to Kapugedera, 1 run, OUT

the blockhole delivery dug out to long on, Kapugedera has got to come back for the second, he has to try and keep the strike. But Guptill gets to the ball quickly from the boundary, he picks up cleanly and unleashes a flat and fast throw on the bounce to Ronchi who breaks the stumps with Kapugedera well short

Chamara Kapugedera run out (Guptill/†Ronchi) 17 (15b 2x4 0x6 22m) SR: 113.33

Kapugedera on strike because the batsmen crossed. Vandersay at the other end.

19.3
W
Elliott to Kulasekara, OUT

Boult's taken the catch at deep midwicket. That slower ball was 88kph and Kulasekara slogged across the line, he was beaten by the change of pace and giving Boult an easy catch under the circumstances

Nuwan Kulasekara c Boult b Elliott 14 (10b 0x4 1x6 11m) SR: 140
19.2
1lb
Elliott to Kapugedera, 1 leg bye

half an appeal for lbw as Kapugedera plants his foot forward and outside off to slog to the leg, he misses and is hit on the pad, they run a leg bye on the off side

The keeper is standing up to the stumps.

19.1
2
Elliott to Kapugedera, 2 runs

Kapugedera tries to smash the ball over the off side but carves it in the air over point, it falls safe and they come back for two! Kapugedera keeps strike

McClenaghan bowled a superb over to leave Elliott with 13 to defend.

Clifford: "If SL wins, Kula is my man of the match"

end of over 196 runs
SL: 170/7CRR: 8.94 RRR: 13.00
Chamara Kapugedera14 (12b 2x4)
Nuwan Kulasekara14 (9b 1x6)
Mitchell McClenaghan 4-0-40-0
Ish Sodhi 4-0-33-1
18.6
1lb
McClenaghan to Kapugedera, 1 leg bye

a swinging full toss, beats the outside edge of the heave to the leg side and hits the pad for a leg bye on the off side

18.5
1
McClenaghan to Kulasekara, 1 run

played to long on again for a single this time

18.4
2
McClenaghan to Kulasekara, 2 runs

nearly in the blockhole, dug out to long on, the batsmen run back for the second and McClenaghan is not happy and makes that quite clear

DanielAlexander: "How about starting the T20I carnival season with a super-over? #NZvSL "

18.3
McClenaghan to Kulasekara, no run

the bouncer, Kulasekara backs away and pulls but is beaten, a dot ball is gold for New Zealand

18.2
1
McClenaghan to Kapugedera, 1 run

a length ball outside leg stump, pulled to long leg, that was a loose ball but just the single

18.1
1
McClenaghan to Kulasekara, 1 run

a low full toss, driven through cover for just the single

19 off 12 balls with three wickets in hand. Anyone's game here.

Happy: "Pure class by Trent Boult... 3 wickets and just 21 runs conceded! Add Matt Henry's wicket taking abilities and get Tim Southee fit and NZ will boast one of the best pace attacks around heading into the World T20!" Will those pitches suit them though?

McClenaghan to bowl ... Elliott will have to bowl the final over I think. How much can McClenaghan leave him?

end of over 1811 runs
SL: 164/7CRR: 9.11 RRR: 9.50
Nuwan Kulasekara10 (5b 1x6)
Chamara Kapugedera13 (10b 2x4)
Ish Sodhi 4-0-33-1
Trent Boult 4-0-21-3
17.6
1
Sodhi to Kulasekara, 1 run

short ball to finish his spell, pulled to deep midwicket

17.5
2
Sodhi to Kulasekara, 2 runs

gets down on one knee again and slogs the ball towards wide long on, they race back for the second

17.4
6
Sodhi to Kulasekara, SIX runs

is Munro going to catch that? No, it falls just over his head! Kulasekara got down on one knee and slogged the ball hard towards deep midwicket

17.3
Sodhi to Kulasekara, no run

Kapugedera tries to play a reverse swat and mis-times it, it falls near his feet

17.2
1
Sodhi to Kapugedera, 1 run

clears his front foot and lofts the ball back over the bowler's head, not timed well enough to beat Guptill at long on

17.1
1
Sodhi to Kulasekara, 1 run

taps his first ball towards short third man for a single

end of over 175 runs • 1 wicket
SL: 153/7CRR: 9.00 RRR: 10.00
Chamara Kapugedera12 (9b 2x4)
Trent Boult 4-0-21-3
Ish Sodhi 3-0-22-1
16.6
W
Boult to Siriwardana, OUT

that is some catch from McClenaghan! Boult pitched the leg-breakish slower ball short of a length and Siriwardana pulled in the air towards deep midwicket. McClenaghan ran a long way from deep square leg and was going at a brisk speed when he slid to take the catch, superbly judged. Huge wicket.

Milinda Siriwardana c McClenaghan b Boult 42 (31b 2x4 2x6 52m) SR: 135.48
16.5
1
Boult to Kapugedera, 1 run

and there's one of the ones, driven into the covers off the front foot and they take on the throw from the fielder on the edge of the circle

DanielAlexander: "Sri Lanka can win it with singles and doubles, no need to panic"

AskESPNcricinfo Logo
Instant answers to T20 questions
Sri Lanka Innings
<1 / 3>