Sri Lanka finally have a win in the 2023 series against New Zealand, winning the 1st T20I against New Zealand with a nail-biting finish, sealing the game in the Super Over.
The game headed for a Super Over after the scores were drawn for 196, with New Zealander Ish Sodhi smashing a sixer from the last ball delivered by Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka.
Despite getting off to a shaky start with their first wicket Pathum Nissanka falling in the first over and Kusal Mendis falling shortly after in between the third over, Sri Lanka put up a score of 196/8 after the hosts elected to bowl first, with Kusal Janith Perera and Charith Asalanka carrying the game for the visitors, scoring 53 and 67 runs each.
Having finished well with the bat, Sri Lanka took that momentum into their bowling effort.
Maheesh Theekshana and Dilshan Madushanka both struck inside the first two overs and put New Zealand in early trouble. In the middle overs, they were blown by the onslaught mainly from Daryl Mitchell.
Sri Lanka were staring down the barrel at one point in the chase but they clawed their way back into the game by picking wickets at regular intervals and bowling some quiet overs.
Shanaka took matters into his own hands to defend 12 runs in the final over but ended up conceding a six on the last ball against Ish Sodhi.
New Zealand were rocked, however, in their pursuit of 197 runs, losing both their openers inside the first two overs. Daryl Mitchell and Captain Tom Latham then got together and steadied the ship with a 63-run stand.
Ish Sodhi’s sixer then got the hosts just over the line, but not enough, drawing the game at 196 for the loss of five wickets.
Albeit batting first in the Super Over, the Kiwis were bowled out phenomenally by Maheesh Theekshana, dismissing James Neesham and Mark Chapman for a total of eight runs.
Asalanka, who was named Player of the Match, sealed the deal for Sri Lanka in the Super Over with three balls to spare, smashing a six and a four, bagging 12 runs for the Lions after the last ball was deemed a no ball.
The teams will meet again at University Oval for the second of three-match T20I series against New Zealand on Wednesday (05 April ).
- With input from agencies
