DAMBULLA: (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka’s spinners and a strong innings from captain Charith Asalanka guided the team to a four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first match of the Ritzbury Twenty20 Series at Dambulla last night. Chasing a modest target of 136, Sri Lanka reached 140-6 in 19 overs, with one over to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The second and final match will be played today at 7 PM at the same venue.
New Zealand, winning the toss and opting to bat first, struggled against Sri Lanka’s spinners. The Blackcaps were bowled out for 135 in 19.3 overs. Early breakthroughs from Dunith Wellalage (3-20) and Nuwan Thushara (2-14) set the tone for Sri Lanka. Wellalage struck in the third over of the power play, clean bowling Tim Robinson, while Thushara dismissed Mark Chapman for one. By the end of the power play, New Zealand were in trouble at 31-2.
The Sri Lankan spinners continued to dominate as Maheesh Theekshana trapped Will Young lbw for 19. Wanindu Hasaranga also made an impact, taking the key wicket of Glen Phillips (13) in the ninth over, reducing New Zealand to 53-4. Matheesha Pathirana then took the important wicket of Mitchell Hay for a duck, and further strikes from the spinners, including a stunning catch by Kamindu Mendis, left New Zealand reeling at 86-7 in the 15th over. A brilliant delivery from Hasaranga stumped captain Mitchell Santner for 16, and New Zealand were eventually all out for 135.
Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a shaky start as they lost Kusal Mendis for a duck in the first over. However, Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka steadied the innings with a 40-run partnership for the second wicket. Perera, who became Sri Lanka’s highest run-scorer in T20 internationals during the match, top-scored with 23 off 17 balls before being dismissed. Nissanka contributed 19 runs off 14 balls before falling in the final over of the power play, leaving Sri Lanka at 46-2.
Despite further setbacks, including the wickets of Kamindu Mendis (23) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (run-a-ball four), Sri Lanka remained on track thanks to a calm and composed innings from Asalanka. Asalanka finished unbeaten on 35, guiding Sri Lanka to the target alongside Wanindu Hasaranga (22), as they reached 140-6 with one over to spare with Dunith Wellalage’s six to finish the victory in style.
The match highlighted Sri Lanka’s spinners’ dominance, with Wellalage, Hasaranga, and Thushara sharing the wickets, while Pathirana also impressed in the death overs. Asalanka’s leadership and calm under pressure were pivotal in securing the win for Sri Lanka, who now lead the series 1-0.
Scores:
New Zealand: 135 all out in 19.3 overs
(Zakary Foulkes 27*, Michael Bracewell 27, Will Young 19, Mitchell Santner 16, Dunith Wellalage 3-20, Nuwan Thushara 2-14, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-20, Matheesha Pathirana 2-25)
Sri Lanka: 140-6 in 19 overs
(Charith Asalanka 35*, Kamindu Mendis 23, Kusal Perera 23, Wanindu Hasaranga 22, Zakary Foulkes 3-20, Glen Phillips 1-12, Mitchell Santner 1-30, Michael Bracewell 1-31)
