New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I at Auckland, Apr 02 2023, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand

RESULT
1st T20I, Auckland, April 02, 2023, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand
(20 ov, T:197) 196/8

Match tied (Sri Lanka won the one-over eliminator)

Player Of The Match
67 (41)
charith-asalanka
Cricinfo's MVP
93.2 ptsImpact List
wanindu-hasaranga
Match centre 
Scores: Binoy George | Comms: Ekanth
Scorecard summary
Sri Lanka 196/5(20 overs)
53* (45)
1/42 (4)
New Zealand 196/8(20 overs)
Cricinfo’s Most Valuable Players of the Match
PLAYERTeam
TI
Runs
I. Runs
B. Impact
Bowl
I. Wkts
Bo. Impact
SL93.221(11)20.7522.472/302.9370.73
NZ84.5119(10)21.1624.172/302.5360.34
SL78.2467(41)73.4178.24--0
NZ68.8966(44)70.8468.89--0
SL57.25--02/372.8557.25

That wraps up our coverage of this match. A thrilling finish to regular play, but the Super Over was all Sri Lanka. See you again for the second T20I in Dunedin.

Shanaka: "We thought we were maybe 30 runs short on that pitch. I couldn't pitch in with runs today, but hope to do that in the coming matches. Maheesh is a superstar. Him, Wanindu, and Dilshan Madushanka did the job for us. With the wet ball it wasn't easy, but we did the job. We've never won a T20 series here, so we're looking forward to the next two games."

Latham: "Another great game of cricket at Eden Park. It was great for Ish to hit that six off the last ball. But it wasn't meant to be today. We didn't have that killer partnership to seal the game, but we got to the Super Over.

If you look at where they scored, it was straight. We were probably just a fraction full, and we have to work on that and hit just back of a length, going into Dunedin where it's a slightly smaller ground as well. We'll take the learnings from today."

Asalanka is player of the match: "It was an exciting game, but today it was our day. It's a small ground straight down the ground. I tried to hit boundaries because I back myself. The top three batted well and Kusal Perera batted really well and put up a partnership of more than 100 with me. Wanindu finished the batting off well also.

"Myself and Kusal Perera thought more than 210 was on because we had batting left, but the New Zealand bowlers did really well after the 15th over and kept us to less than 200."

Five (completed) matches into the tour, Sri Lanka finally have a win in New Zealand. Charith Asalanka was their most effective batter, first surging to 67 off 41 after Sri Lanka lost three wickets in a manic powerplay, before pounding a six and a four to win the Super Over. Maheesh Theekshana was exceptional as well, conceding only 22 in regular play (whilst taking a wicket), before delivering as good a Super Over as anyone has for Sri Lanka.

There were other heartening contributions - Kusal Perera hitting a half-century in his first match in 16 months (he'd been out through injury), and Wanindu Hasaranga was good in his four overs too.

0.3
5nb
Milne to Asalanka, (no ball) FOUR runs

Deftly guided over the keeper and Asalanka takes Sri Lanka to victory! Milne went into the pitch from around the wicket. Offered a bit of room, Asalanka ramped it late and managed to get it over the keeper. Umpire says it's a front-foot no-ball.

Long conference among the fielders. Long-on is back, fielders in the ring on the off-side

0.2
6
Milne to Asalanka, SIX runs

Slot ball on the pads is slogged across, it hangs high in the air. Chapman is on the ropes, tries to drag it back but it's too far! The slower ball works against Milne and Sri Lanka now need two from four balls

Latham runs down and has a chat with Milne. Crowd goes up in cheer

0.1
1
Milne to Kusal Mendis, 1 run

Slower one on a length outside off, Mendis tries to heave it away but doesn't time it. Goes to long-on, along the ground

Milne has bowled a few practice balls. Mendis is padding up, it'll be him and Asalanka to start off. Chris Silverwood, the coach, has a word with them. The batters have a small chat before making their way out. There is noise in the ground but it's dying down.

An early boundary or wicket could make the difference here. Fielders are in the ring on the off side.

SUPER OVER - END OF OVER8 runs • 2 wickets
NZ: 8/2CRR: 8.00 

Excellent over from Theekshana but New Zealand have eight runs to defend. Milne will bowl the over. Theekshana started the over by going wide to Neesham. Chapman was unlucky to not get four more than he did but Theekshana adjusted his line, kept the lengths tight and ended the super over with the perfect ball.

0.6
W
Theekshana to Chapman, OUT

Nails the yorker, cramps Chapman who tried to whip it across. It snuck through the gap and disturbed furniture.

Mark Chapman b Theekshana 6 (4b 1x4 0x6)
0.5
4
Theekshana to Chapman, FOUR runs

Chapman rocks back and pulls the shortish ball against the spin wide of deep midwicket for four. That was slower offbreak, allowed time for Chapman to adjust and pummel it

0.4
2
Theekshana to Chapman, 2 runs

Powers the pull but can't time it well enough, goes along the ground to deep midwicket. Theekshana, predictably, isn't giving air and is bowling tight lines

0.3
Theekshana to Chapman, no run

Champan now in. Nails the straight drive but it hits the stumps at the non-striker's end.

0.2
W
Theekshana to Neesham, OUT

Skier is taken brilliantly while backtracking by Theekshana! It was a length ball outside off that Neesham tried to mow down the ground, got a top edge and it was in the air for ages. Theekshana went back and settled in but not under it. Instead, he waited and dove last moment to take a stunner. He's pumped!

James Neesham c & b Theekshana 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)
0.2
1w
Theekshana to Neesham, 1 wide

Around to Neesham, who's alert to notice that the flat, length ball was outside the off-side tramline. Lets it go

0.1
1
Theekshana to Mitchell, 1 run

Wide and flat, the full ball is slapped to deep cover. Thick outside edge. Goes straight to the fielder. Mitchell looked for the second but it was not on.

Chapman is padded up. Neesham and Mitchell run out. The fielders are out. If the super over is tied, we will have another super over. Maheesh Theekshana will bowl

end of over 2012 runs • 1 wicket
NZ: 196/8CRR: 9.80 
Ish Sodhi10 (4b 1x6)
Henry Shipley1 (1b)
Dasun Shanaka 2-0-20-2
Pramod Madushan 4-0-37-2

4:35pm: New Zealand will bat first. Sri Lanka were in front at the end but, as was the case throughout the game, New Zealand fought back. Ravindra's wicket felt like it signalled the end. Sodhi found his timing from the get-go, he smoked the final ball to give the hosts another go.

19.6
6
Shanaka to Sodhi, SIX runs

Full ball is whipped over midwicket, it's in the stands! Sodhi does it easy as you like and nonchalantly walks away.

Six to tie. Long conversations. Short third, gully in. Six to tie.

19.5
1
Shanaka to Shipley, 1 run

Full outside off, Shipley tries to whack it over long-on. Gets it along the ground straight to the fielder. Pace: 130kph

19.4
1b
Shanaka to Sodhi, 1 bye

Wide yorker nailed, Sodhi tries to jam it square on the off side, misses and takes off for the bye. Keeper sends the throw to the bowler, Shanaka keeps it with himself to avoid overthrows

19.3
2
Shanaka to Sodhi, 2 runs

Goes to long-off again, should've been an easier stop but a misfield has the batters get two. Was a shortish ball outside off that Sodhi belted

19.2
2
Shanaka to Sodhi, 2 runs

Full ball is pummeled down the ground, long-off has to run across and slide. Manages to get behind it. Keeps it to two

19.1
W
Shanaka to Ravindra, OUT

Slapped flat in the air, to the right of Hasaranga at long-off, and it's taken. Is that the game?! Was a slot ball that Ravindra tried to hit wide of long-off or over. Hasaranga slouches and catches the bullet close to his chest

Rachin Ravindra c Hasaranga b Shanaka 26 (13b 2x4 2x6 20m) SR: 200

Captain's brought himself on for the final over

end of over 1910 runs • 1 wicket
NZ: 184/7CRR: 9.68 RRR: 13.00 • Need 13 from 6b
Rachin Ravindra26 (12b 2x4 2x6)
Pramod Madushan 4-0-37-2
Chamika Karunaratne 3-0-36-0
18.6
W
Pramod to Milne, OUT

Swipes across, edge carries to deep third! Was a slot ball just outside off, Milne made room - which worked against him - and tried to slog it over long-on. Went low to Asalanka who took it. Madushan has his finger up. He leaves 13 for the final over.

Adam Milne c Asalanka b Pramod Madushan 3 (4b 0x4 0x6 13m) SR: 75

Effectively a free hit

18.5
1
Pramod to Ravindra, 1 run

Low full toss around off, tries to whack it away. Ball goes off the bottom to the right of long-on, fielder lays down his hamstring on the grass to add a barrier. Good throw too, Ravindra wanted to go back but was wisely sent back

18.4
4
Pramod to Ravindra, FOUR runs

Low full toss is driven into the ground, Hasaranga runs and slides to the left. Tries to stop it with his left hand and misses. Not great fielding, allows four. 14 needed off 8 now.

18.3
1
Pramod to Milne, 1 run

French cut to short fine. Went back to the full ball. It was on middle. Milne's front leg was well outside leg, tried to launch it over mid-on

18.3
1w
Pramod to Milne, 1 wide

Bouncer is left alone. Is it too high? Leg umpire says yes. Was outside off and replays confirm it was well over head-high

18.2
1
Pramod to Ravindra, 1 run

Slot just outside off at 135kph. Slapped to mid-off, looked like Ravindra tried to go over the leg side.

21 from 11. Ravindra back on strike

18.1
1
Pramod to Milne, 1 run

Full and fast around off, driven to mid-off, who is in. Single scampered.

18.1
1w
Pramod to Milne, 1 wide

Full and wide seems to be the new plan. This ball is too wide, beats the slap aimed to go square. Given wide. Sandstorm by Darude takes over and the crowd are into it.

end of over 1818 runs
NZ: 174/6CRR: 9.66 RRR: 11.50 • Need 23 from 12b
Rachin Ravindra20 (9b 1x4 2x6)
Adam Milne1 (1b)
Chamika Karunaratne 3-0-36-0
Wanindu Hasaranga 4-0-30-2
17.6
4
C Karunaratne to Ravindra, FOUR runs

Short again, it's pulled. This time it hits the outfield in the midwicket region, it's wide to the right of the deep fielder... and goes for four! That was the pocket with the arc, that meant it was the bigger boundary. But it was placed brilliantly. Not sure if going hard into the pitch after the last ball was a wise option. But credit to Ravindra, who's playing this to perfection.

17.5
6
C Karunaratne to Ravindra, SIX runs

Middles the pull, into the top tier of the west stand. Back of length around off, hit flat and 84-metres away over midwicket. New Zealand now on par with the DLS score.

17.4
6
C Karunaratne to Ravindra, SIX runs

In the slot, clubbed over long-on! Cleared the front leg and swung freely, hit over the dug out.

17.3
C Karunaratne to Ravindra, no run

Down the track early, Chamika goes short and slow. Angles it away sharply, beaten on the pull

17.2
1
C Karunaratne to Milne, 1 run

Ball goes straight to point, they risk a single as slight rain comes on. NZ need to be 165 at this point. Was a length ball that took the leading edge off the flick

17.1
1
C Karunaratne to Ravindra, 1 run

Was pushing with a straight bat. Outside edge, goes to the right of the bowler, towards mid-off

Best performances - batters
Spike Graph
Wagon Zone
KIC Asalanka
67 runs (41)
2 fours6 sixes
Productive shot
on drive
13 runs
0 four2 sixes
Control
61%
DJ Mitchell
66 runs (44)
5 fours3 sixes
Productive shot
pull
26 runs
3 fours1 six
Control
61%
Best performances - bowlers
PW Hasaranga
O
4
M
0
R
30
W
2
ECO
7.5
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
LEGOFF
LHB
2W
JDS Neesham
O
4
M
0
R
30
W
2
ECO
7.5
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
2W
LEGOFF
LHB
Match details
Eden Park, Auckland
TossNew Zealand, elected to field first
Series
Season2022/23
Player Of The Match
Series resultSri Lanka led the 3-match series 1-0
Match numberT20I no. 2039
Match days2 April 2023 - day (20-over match)
T20I debut
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Language
English
Win Probability
NZ 50%
SLNZ
100%50%100%SL InningsNZ Innings

Over 20 • NZ 196/8

Rachin Ravindra c Hasaranga b Shanaka 26 (13b 2x4 2x6 20m) SR: 200
W
Match tied (Sri Lanka won the one-over eliminator)
Powered by Smart Stats
AskESPNcricinfo Logo
Instant answers to T20 questions
New Zealand Innings
<1 / 3>