Twitter Reactions: Bowlers, Asalanka set up win for Sri Lanka in low-scoring thriller in Dambulla

Sri Lanka and New Zealand. (Source – Getty Images)

Sri Lanka won the first T20I in their two-match series against New Zealand by four wickets with an over to spare at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Saturday, November 9.

Mitchell Santner won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bat first on a pitch that looked to be on the slower side from the outset. Maheesh Theekshana started proceedings for Sri Lanka with Nuwan Thushara and the former gave the hosts their first breakthrough when he dismissed Tim Robinson in the third over. New Zealand lost two more wickets and ended the powerplay at 31/3.

Wickets kept tumbling for the Kiwis as the Sri Lankan spinners bowled with great control and made excellent use of the favourable surface. The tourists lost their eighth wicket in the 16th over with just 96 runs on the board. Right-arm pacer Zakary Foulkes played a blinder of an innings at No. 9 as his unbeaten 27 off 16 balls helped New Zealand reach a respectable total of 135.

Dunith Wellalage stood out with the ball for Sri Lanka as he accounted for three New Zealand wickets. Thushara, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Matheesha Pathirana took two wickets apiece as Charith Asalanka was the only bowler who couldn’t open his account for the Lankan Lions.

New Zealand grind but Sri Lanka persevere

Sri Lanka lost the wicket of Kusal Mendis in the second over as Santner provided the early breakthrough. However, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera made the most of the field restrictions and put on a whirlwind 40-run stand off 22 balls. Both batters got starts but couldn’t convert them into substantial scores as they departed in consecutive overs.

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Sri Lanka were decently placed at 55/3 at the end of seven overs. The in-form Kamindu Mendis and captain Asalanka stitched a 27-run stand off 22 balls to take the home side closer to the 136-run target. However, Kamindu was dismissed in the 11th over and Bhanuka Rajapaksa walked out to the middle. The latter was dismissed in the following over as he couldn’t control a bouncer from Foulkes.

Sri Lanka lost half their side for 87 runs in 11.3 overs as Hasaranga joined his captain in the middle. The experienced duo batted with composure and took their team to the brink before Hasaranga was dismissed in the 18th over by another short ball from Foulkes.

New Zealand fought hard till the end but their hopes were quashed in the penultimate over as Wellalage finished the match with a boundary and a six off Jacob Duffy. Asalanka held the Sri Lankan innings from one end as he remained unbeaten on 35 off 28 balls.

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