Sri Lanka is going well under Sanath Jayasuriya. Starting from July this year, the Lankans are building one feat after another. It was under him that the Lankans ran out of 27-year wait against India. In front of Sri Lanka is now the possibility of overcoming the Kiwi puzzle.
Both Sri Lanka-New Zealand teams are having a busy time in international cricket. After the Test series in September, the Kiwis have come to Lanka to play limited overs cricket. Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 4 wickets at the Rongiri International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla last night to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Twenty20 series. The second T20 of the series will start at 7:30 pm Bangladesh time today at the same ground. If this match is won, the Lankans will win the T20 series against New Zealand after 11 years. The last time the Lankans beat New Zealand in the T20 series was in 2013.
From where Jayasuriya starts, Asalanka also starts from there. Charith Asalanka officially became Sri Lanka's white ball cricket captain in July this year. Asalanka retired before the start of the T20 series against New Zealand. The Lankan captain said that their goal is to be the first team in the ICC rankings. Currently, the team is ranked 6th and 8th in the ICC ODI and T20I rankings.
The hum that Asalanka left before the start of the New Zealand series reflected that last night in Dambulla. He was man of the match after playing an unbeaten innings of 35 runs off 28 balls with 1 four and 2 sixes. Asalanka contributed to make two pairs of 38 and 15 runs with Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Vellalag in the sixth and seventh wickets. Vellalaghe sealed the victory for the Lankans by smashing Jacob Duffy over deep mid-wicket for a six. At the award ceremony after the match, Asalanka said, 'I was suffering from a bit of nervous pressure. But my plan was to bat at the end. It seemed that Wanindu-Vellalaghe will bat in the end.'
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and decided to bat first yesterday. Losing wickets at regular intervals, the Kiwis' score at one stage was 96 for 8 in 15.4 overs. From there the Kiwis made 135 runs. Their innings ended with 3 balls to spare. After the match, Asalanka said, 'We could have bowled them out 15-20 runs earlier. They have to give credit to their lower order batsmen.'
Sri Lankan spinners picked up 6 of New Zealand's 10 wickets. Out of which Vellalag took 3 wickets for 20 runs by bowling 3.3 overs. Hasaranga and Mahish Tikshana 2 and 1 wickets. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner praised the Lankan bowlers. “It's definitely a challenge,” Santner said. I thought we would do well if we scored 130 runs. In the middle of the innings, I didn't think I would be able to go this far. But credit must be given to the Lankan bowlers. They did it too hard.'
Including this time, Sri Lanka and New Zealand have met ten times in bilateral T20 series so far. New Zealand had won the series five times out of the previous nine. Three series were drawn. Sri Lanka's only series win against the Kiwis in 2013 was a two-match series. Then a T20 was abandoned without a ball rolling on the field.
