New Zealand overcame injury issues to hold their nerve and clinch a Twenty20 series win over Sri Lanka.

Colin de Grandhomme and Tom Bruce carried the Black Caps to a four wicket win with two balls left in Kandy on Wednesday (NZ time), combining for a 109-run fourth wicket partnership.

When de Grandhomme fell for 59, New Zealand still needed seven off the final over. Sri Lanka gave themselves a chance removing Bruce for 53, who had to have his right knee strapped, hurting himself while running late in his innings.

Bruce was run out at the non striker’s end in the final over and on the next ball, Daryl Mitchell was caught at long on. 

The decisive moment came when Mitchell Santner blasted it into the deep. Sri Lanka’s Shehan Jayasuriya looked to have made a fine running catch at wide long on, but collided with team-mate Kusal Mendis and tumbled over the boundary rope, conceding six.

Both players were hurt in the collision, on a day where injuries were a dominant theme.

The victory gives the Black Caps an unassailable 2-0 lead with the final match on Saturday morning (NZ time).

New Zealand were dealt a pre-game blow with senior pro Ross Taylor ruled out with a left hip flexor injury, sustained while scoring 48 in the first T20.

Taylor sat out as a precaution, being replaced by Central Stags’ team-mate Bruce, and is expected to be healthy for the third and final T20 on Saturday (NZ time).

There were more health concerns when Martin Guptill limped off the field in the 10th over of Sri Lanka’s innings, suffering a suspected side strain injury while returning a throw.

Set 162 to win the series, New Zealand made a fast start through openers Colin Munro and Tim Seifert, taking 14 off Lasith Malinga’s opening over.

Rance nabbed three wickets for the third time in just his seventh T20 international, finishing with 3-33. Sri Lanka were restricted to 161-9 from their 20 overs, slightly under the average first innings score of 175 at Pallekele International Stadium. 

Source: Stuff.co.nz