01/01Result
3rd T20I, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand at Nelson, Jan 2 2025
Sri Lanka won by 7 runs
Player of the Match
Kusal Perera
Kusal PereraSri Lanka
01/01Result
3rd T20I, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand at Nelson, Jan 2 2025
Sri Lanka won by 7 runs
Player of the Match
Kusal Perera
Kusal PereraSri Lanka

END OF OVER:
20 | 6 Runs | SL: 218/5 | RR: 10.90

  • Chamidu Wickramasinghe6 (6b)
  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa6 (5b)
  • Jacob Duffy4-0-30-1
  • Daryl Mitchell1-0-6-1

3.25pm Sri Lanka with a score that's well-above par here. Kusal Perera gets his career-best and SL's fastest T20I ton. Asalanka hammered a 24-ball 46 from No. 5. Those two, and their 100-run partnership, flattened the NZ bowlers. Foulkes went at 13 per over, Henry at 11.75, Santner at 12, Bracewell at 11.33. Only Duffy didn't take a tap, and Mitchell's solo 19th over went for only seven runs.

So, can New Zealand give their fans a winning start to 2025? Or will the visiting SL fans and their fans from the diaspora get a reason to celebrate? Remember, the series is already sealed by NZ 2-0, but pride is a big motivator. Madushka will see you on the other side.

Joel Gordon: "I think while NZ wil have to bat well they are still well in the game here and this total is not out of question at this ground"

Navod: "Sri Lanka should've sent Hasaranga instead of Chamindu to score some quick runs "

Angus: "Don't think I have ever seen a team get 218 while only 12 of those came in the final 2 overs. Great striking through the middle."

19.6
4
Duffy to Wickramasinghe, FOUR, streaky four! Fullish ball, rather wide outside off. The batter comes down the track for a big shot over the off side but he toe-ends it between the keeper and short third for a boundary. Sri Lanka finish on 218!
19.5
0
Duffy to Wickramasinghe, no run, again the ramp/scoop is missed. Full ball just outside off. Chamidu does the first-half of his work well by moving across swiftly outside off. But he fails to put the icing on the cake. Through to the keeper
19.4
1
Duffy to Rajapaksa, 1 run, overpitched ball, sixth-stump line. Offers the high-elbow while trying the square drive. Can't really get under it well. Struck to deep point

Celine : "This match on 2nd January, while I'm still in the evening of 1st January in California. Well done Perera!" -- A new year to remember for you

19.3
1
Duffy to Wickramasinghe, 1 run, low full toss, wide outside off. He can't get to the ball adequately. Slices a mistimed shot towards cover

Andrew: "Is there any rule that means Mitchell can't bowl the last over? Two on the trot seems a wise idea..." -- If only this was The Hundred

19.2
0
Duffy to Wickramasinghe, no run, wild swing. Full ball, fifth-stump line. Chamidu goes for an expansive slog aiming for the leg side. Misses again
19.1
0
Duffy to Wickramasinghe, no run, around the stumps. Full ball just outside off. The youngster tries to move to the off side and play a scoop/ramp over the keeper. Misses the connection

END OF OVER:
19 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | SL: 212/5 | RR: 11.15

  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa5 (4b)
  • Chamidu Wickramasinghe1 (1b)
  • Daryl Mitchell1-0-6-1
  • Matt Henry4-0-47-1
18.6
4
Mitchell to Rajapaksa, FOUR, slower ball, bit wider outside off. He comes down the track and tries to lift it over cover, instead slices the shot and gets it over short third. Ball dribbles away for four! Still, all things considered, a great Mitchell over
18.5
1
Mitchell to Wickramasinghe, 1 run, length ball just outside off. Clubs it over the infield, but on the bounce to deep extra cover

Madushka adds: Fastest T20I century by a Sri Lankan. Beats Dilshan, who got there in 55 balls.

Murtaza Mustafa: "This is a massive knock from Kusal Perera..This guy when he is on fire "

18.4
W
Mitchell to Perera, OUT, Golden-arm Mitchell removes Perera! Bangs it short just outside off. Perera tries to manufacture a shot by attempting to flat-bat it over the off side. Ball goes high up and taken by Ravindra tracking back near point. Perera falls after hitting 101 at a strike rate of nearly 220

MDKJ Perera c Ravindra b Mitchell 101 (78m 46b 13x4 4x6) SR: 219.56

18.3
0
Mitchell to Perera, no run, full ball just outside off. Drags the attempted slog to the bowler's left

SL are seven runs past 200! The last few overs have been a whirlwind!

18.2
1
Mitchell to Rajapaksa, 1 run, good length ball on off. Plays a late glance to try and beat short third, but the fielder does well to grab that
18.1
0
Mitchell to Rajapaksa, no run, full ball just outside off. Mistimes a lofted attempt, and it falls a foot or two in front of the cover fielder

Interesting. Mitchell for one over

END OF OVER:
18 | 23 Runs | SL: 206/4 | RR: 11.44

  • Kusal Perera101 (44b)
  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa0 (1b)
  • Matt Henry4-0-47-1
  • Zakary Foulkes4-0-52-1
17.6
6
Henry to Perera, SIX, gets to his maiden T20I century in style! Smacked over cover! Full ball, just outside off and he uses his fast hands to clobber it beyond the boundary. Standing ovation from the fans and the SL team!
17.5
6
Henry to Perera, SIX, what a sound off the bat! Oof. Pace-on short ball. Ball climbs after pitching but Perera clears the front leg and pulls it with disdain over cow corner!
17.4
2
Henry to Perera, 2 runs, back of a length ball, and he mistimes this off-pace delivery by flat-batting it over Duffy's head. Bracewell manages to stop the four by sliding around at long on

This is a career-best performance from Perera

17.3
6
Henry to Perera, SIX, there's the six! Knee-high full toss on leg. Perera swings across the line and gets enough power behind the shot to send the ball over deep square leg! Just clears the boundary
17.2
0
Henry to Perera, no run, slot ball just outside off. Perera swings across the line and he's gutted to have missed out. Through to the keeper. He had cleared the front leg and was dreaming of the six over long on already!

They're trying to keep the ball away from Perera's arc

17.2
1w
Henry to Perera, 1 wide, full ball, quite wide outside off. Perera reaches out to play at it, misses, but he gets a wide-run for the team
17.1
2
Henry to Perera, 2 runs, full ball outside off. Tries to slap it through point but inside edged past the poles to fine leg

END OF OVER:
17 | 16 Runs 1 Wkt | SL: 183/4 | RR: 10.76

  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa0 (1b)
  • Kusal Perera79 (38b)
  • Zakary Foulkes4-0-52-1
  • Jacob Duffy3-0-24-1
16.6
0
Foulkes to Rajapaksa, no run, back of a length ball, bit wider outside off. Rajapaksa is deceived. Cuts way too early. On the bounce to the keeper

The century stand has been broken. But Foulkes' numbers have taken a beating today

16.5
W
Foulkes to Asalanka, OUT, Phillips makes no mistake as this slow, short ball is pulled flat to deep midwicket. It's destined to land ten metres in front of the boundary line but Phillips hares in and puts in a dive forward to complete the catch

KIC Asalanka c Phillips b Foulkes 46 (38m 24b 1x4 5x6) SR: 191.66

16.5
1w
Foulkes to Asalanka, 1 wide, good length ball just outside leg and skids down the leg side
16.4
6
Foulkes to Asalanka, SIX, terrific effort in the deep, but still it's a drop technically! Pace-off ball again. Short ball and sits up for him to attempt a pull. Pulls it to deep square leg, where Robinson jumps on the boundary line to take a catch going for six, but he ends up stepping on the skirting on the way down. Also fumbled the ball out of his hands so it was a drop anyway. And the umpire calls it a six
16.3
1
Foulkes to Perera, 1 run, pace-off. Short of good length. Swiped from his chest-region to deep midwicket
16.2
4
Foulkes to Perera, FOUR, low full toss just outside off. Perera hammers this right back, and nearly takes Asalanka with him to the long-off fence! Put away with disdain

New Zealand 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st81R RavindraTB Robinson
2nd13MS ChapmanR Ravindra
3rd18GD PhillipsR Ravindra
4th17DJ MitchellR Ravindra
5th39DJ MitchellMJ Hay
6th2MG BracewellDJ Mitchell
7th0DJ MitchellMJ Santner
8th41MJ SantnerZGF Foulkes