New Zealand 209 all out (Chapman 76, Hay 49, Theekshana 3-31) vs Sri Lanka(47 overs a facet)
All of the Sri Lankan bowlers nonetheless owe a debt of gratitude to their outfielders who, regardless of dropping some powerful possibilities, held on to even more durable ones. Avishka Fernando was on the forefront of this excellence, finishing two practically an identical grabs, diving ahead within the deep to scoop the ball centimetres off the bottom, to dismiss each Phillips and and Chapman.
And he was not completed but, taking one other stellar catch on the run and slide to take away Bracewell. Pathum Nissanka too threw his title within the hat for catch of the match, with a surprising dash from long-off in direction of mid-off, culminating in a full-length dive to carry on to a skier from Mitchell Santner.
Sri Lanka’s floor fielding too was on level, with the infielders specifically smothering the visiting batters, competing for each run. This was highlighted by an astonishing 157 dot balls being performed out throughout the course of the innings – one which had already been shortened to 47 overs as a consequence of rain.
Whereas the floor in Pallekele did not supply the identical flip as that was accessible in Dambulla, its sluggish nature meant the spinners had been tough to get away however. New Zealand’s greatest alternative at fast runs was through the energy play however Dunith Wellalage – on for Dilshan Madushanka as Sri Lanka bolstered their spin division – struck in simply the second over of the innings, skidding one by Tim Robinson, to peg the guests again early.
This meant each Younger and Henry Nicholls had been content material to easily anticipate poor deliveries – one thing in restricted provide – to attain boundaries. Because of this, their partnership of twenty-two took 38 deliveries to muster. And simply because the strain was constructing, Theekshana fired one outdoors off at 107kph which Nicholls may solely stab at earlier than taking part in onto the stumps.
That wicket preceded by a few minutes the primary of the rain stoppages, and upon resumption New Zealand had one in every of their higher passages of play. Each Younger and Chapman seemed snug as they labored the ball round, even when the scoring fee was by no means past 5 an over. Their partnership of 38 got here off 53 deliveries, however was ended abruptly when Younger missed one from Vandersay having skipped down the observe.
Chapman and Phillips then supplied sprouts of one other promising stand following the second rain stoppage, placing on 29 from 38. However that too was lower quick – this time courtesy the primary of Avishka’s stunners.
It was her New Zealand had their greatest interval of the sport, as Chapman and Hay put within the time to rebuild the innings. Such was the strangle being exerted by the spinners through the early a part of this stand, they scored simply 13 runs within the first 41 deliveries confronted. However by the top of it, the partnership had soared to 75 off 78, as each batters lastly felt snug taking dangers.
Sixty-two runs had been scored between the thirtieth and thirty sixth over, as New Zealand may need been eyeing up a complete within the area of 250. Nonetheless on a spinner’s deck, it was Asitha who had essentially the most decisive say, returning for a double wicket strike to see the backs of Chapman and Bracewell.
From that time on, it was a trudge for the guests as Hay sought to battle it out with the tail. He was the final batter to fall, one in need of a maiden ODI fifty.
