Today morning (2nd), the Sri Lankan team was able to win by 7 runs in the third T20 match held for the New Zealand tour of the Sri Lankan team. However, New Zealand won the first two matches of the 3-match Twenty20 series and won the series by 2-1 matches.
The New Zealand captain won the toss and invited Sri Lanka to score first in the match held at the Saxton Oval International Cricket Stadium in Nelson.
However, this time Matt Henry managed to limit Sri Lanka's opening contact to 24 points and beat Pathum Nissanka to 14 points. Kusal Janath and Kusal Mendis could add only 18 runs for the second wicket. Accordingly, when the total number of runs was 42, Kusal Mendis also left the field for 22 runs.Avishka Fernando could collect only 17 points here as well.
After that dismissal, skipper Charit Asanka, who joined Kusal Janith, added 100 runs in 45 balls for Sri Lanka's fourth wicket. Asanka, who played a leading innings, scored 46 runs off 24 balls with a four and six sixes.Kusal Janith, who took the burden of Sri Lanka's innings, scored 101 runs in 46 balls. Kusal's innings was colorful with 13 fours and 4 sixes.This was Kusal Janathith's best T20 innings and with this century, Kusal made history as the third batsman to score a century for Sri Lanka in an international T20 match. It was also notable that a Sri Lankan batsman scored a twenty-20 century after 13 years.Accordingly, the Sri Lankan team scored 218 runs for 5 wickets at the end of the scheduled 20 overs.
Rachin Ravindra and Tim Robinson managed to build a successful opening partnership of 81 runs for New Zealand who chased that challenging target.But Tit Robinson was dismissed for 37 runs and Mark Chapman came close to being bowled out for 9 runs. Glenn Phillips could collect only 6 points. Rachin Ravindra, who played a superb innings, scored 69 runs in 39 balls.Mitchell Hay scored 8 runs as the 5th wicket of the New Zealand innings. Daryl Mitchell could also collect only 35 points.
At the end of the innings, Zachry Fox scored 21 runs without losing and captain Mitchell Santner scored 14 runs but it was not enough to win the game.Accordingly, at the end of the scheduled 20 overs, New Zealand could collect only 211 runs for 7 wickets.
While bowling for Sri Lanka, Charit Asanlaka took 3 wickets and Vanindu Hasaranga took 2 wickets while Nuwan Thushara and Binura Fernando shared one wicket each.
However, Kusal Janith Perera won the man of the match awards and Jacob Duffy won the man of the tournament awards.
Sri Lanka - 218/5 (20) (Kusal Janith Perera 101, Charith Sasanka 46, Kusal Mendis 22, Avishka Fernando 17, Pathum Nissanka 14, Matt Henry 47/1, Jacob Duffy 30/1, Zach Fox 36/1, Mitchell Santner 52/1, Darrell Mitchell 6/1)
New Zealand - 211/7 (20) (Rachin Ravindra 69, Tim Robinson 37, Daryl Mitchell 35, Zach Fawkes 21 not out, Charith Asanka 50/3, Vanindu Hasaranga 38/2, Nuwan Thushara 33/1, Binura Fernando 43/1)
