Sri Lanka vs New Zealand: Kiwis Fall Short in a Nail Biting High Scoring Thriller

The 3rd and Final T20I between New Zealand and Sri Lanka was nothing short of a thrilling spectacle, filled with explosive batting and intense moments. Despite losing the series, Sri Lanka made a remarkable comeback in this high-scoring encounter, pushing New Zealand to the brink in a dramatic chase. The Kiwis fell short, but their earlier victories in the series secured them the 2-1 series win. Here’s a comprehensive review of the final T20I, where the action was fast-paced, and the stakes were high for both teams.

Kusal Perera's Century Powers Sri Lanka to a Massive Total

The toss was won by New Zealand, and they chose to bowl first. The surface at Saxton Oval was a batting paradise, and the pitch didn’t change much over the 40 overs of the match. Sri Lanka came into this game with a few recent losses, but that didn’t seem to bother them as they had a fantastic start with the bat. The boundaries at Saxton Oval are shorter compared to other stadiums, which helps the batters find the boundary with ease.

Kusal Perera capitalized on the excellent start provided by the top order, scoring 50 runs before going on to make his first-ever T20I century. This knock was particularly special for the Sri Lankan batter, who had been struggling to find his rhythm lately. With this inning, he made a much-needed comeback. 

The match-defining partnership between Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka powered Sri Lanka to a total of 218/5, with Kusal Perera scoring 101 runs off 46 balls and Charith Asalanka contributing 46 runs off 24 balls. The Kiwi bowlers faced their share of struggles on this pitch, which allowed little room for error, and the boundaries continued to come easily for the Sri Lankan batters. Despite taking wickets at regular intervals, New Zealand couldn’t halt the momentum of the Sri Lankan batting lineup, who put up a strong total on the board.

Rachin Ravindra's Valiant Effort Falls Short in the Chase

The target of 219 on the board saw the Kiwi openers, Tim Robinson and Rachin Ravindra, make a solid start to their chase. They formed a strong partnership, adding 81 runs off 42 balls for the first wicket before Binura Fernando provided a much-needed breakthrough for Sri Lanka. The New Zealand middle order struggled to maintain the required run rate, with the exception of Daryl Mitchell, who played valiantly. Meanwhile, Rachin Ravindra notched up his first fifty of the series.

Despite their efforts, Sri Lanka managed to dismiss both set batters, and although captain Mitchell Santner and Zakary Foulkes fought hard, New Zealand fell short by 7 runs. Charith Asalanka, despite being expensive, took 3 wickets, which were crucial in helping Sri Lanka defend their total. 

Sri Lanka won the match by 7 runs, marking a consolation victory to start the New Year. The game provided fans with plenty of boundaries and sixes. Kusal Perera was awarded Player of the Match for his magnificent century, while Jacob Duffy received the Player of the Series award for taking 8 wickets throughout the series.

As the thrilling T20I series concludes, both teams now turn their attention to the ODI format, with three exciting matches scheduled across various venues. The shift to the longer format promises more intense cricketing action, as Sri Lanka looks to bounce back while New Zealand aims to build on their series win. Stay tuned for all the latest updates, insights, and match highlights from the upcoming Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand ODI series.