Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 2nd T20: Kusal and Dilshan star as Lanka romp to victory

Half centuries by Dilshan (59 not out) and Kusal Perera (57) saw Sri Lanka romp to an eight-wicket win over New Zealand in the second Twenty20 international at Pallekelle on Wednesday and retain their top ranking.

Chasing a target of 143, Sri Lanka recovered from the early dismissal of Mahela to reach 143-2 in 17.5 overs.

An enterprising second wicket stand of 96 in 11.5 overs between Dilshan and Kusal sealed the match for Sri Lanka.

Kusal rode his luck having been dropped on 6 an 39 to make 57 off 37 balls slamming six boundaries and two sixes.

Dilshan comparatively more pedestrian with his unbeaten 59 coming off 49 balls and containing eight boundaries.

SRI LANKA INNINGS

Sri Lanka coasted to an eight-wicket win over New Zealand with 13 balls to spare in the second Twenty20 international at Pallekelle Cricket Stadium on Thursday night.

It's a clinical performance on the home stretch by the experienced Sri Lankan pair who are doing it calmly in singles. SL 133-2 in 17 overs.

Sri Lanka are coasting nedding 16 from 24 balls with nine wickets in hand.

Dilshan sweeps Nicol to the midwicket fence off consecutive balls to bring up his half century off 41 balls. SL 114-2 in 14 overs.

It's third time lucky for New Zealand as Nicol holds on to a skier from Kusal. SL 104-2 in 13.1 overs.
    
Kusal Perera c and b Nicol 57 (37b 6x4 2x6)

McCullum has been hit for a couple of boundaries as Sri Lanka are cantering at the moment. SL 100-1 in 12 overs.

Kusal completes his half century off just 31 balls having hit five boundaries and two sixes. SL 88-1 in 11 overs.

Kusal pulls a bouncer from McClenaghan to the square leg fence as Sri Lanka are on course at the halfway stage. SL 80-1 in 10 overs.

New Zealand let off Kusal for the second time with Munro dropping a skier on 39. SL 70-1 in 9 overs.

The 50-partnership between Dilshan and Kusal comes off just 32 balls. SL 60-1 in 7 overs.

Dishan pounces on a half tracker from Ellis to the midwicket fence. SL 54-1 in 6 overs.

Dilshan finally gets into his stride sweeping McCullum to the fine leg fence. SL 46-1 in 5 overs.

Kusal is turning it on cracking a couple of boundaries of McLenaghan with exquisite timing. SL 40-1 in 4 overs.

Kusal is on fire hammering another six and boundary off Mills. SL 29-1 in 3 overs.

Kusal slams the second ball he faced from McClenaghan for a massive six over long-on and is dropped at short fine leg. SL 15-1 in 2 overs.

McClenaghan strikes with his second delivery trapping Mahela leg before. SL 8-1 in 1.2 overs.   

Mahela Jayawardene lbw b McClenaghan 3 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Dilshan hits the first boundary of the innings flicking Mills to mid-on. SL 8-0 in 1 over.

NEW ZEALAND INNINGS

New Zealand finish on 142-7 in 20 overs.   

Rob Nicol lbw b Malinga 2 (2b 0x4 0x6)   

Nathan McCullum run out 26 (16b 3x4 0x6)

McCullum smashes consecutive boundaries off Kulasekera in the 19th over. NZ 136-5.

Ronchi profits from the let off hammering a six and a boundary off Thisara. NZ 113-5 in 17 overs.

McCullum cracks a boundary off Kulasekera while Rambukwelle drops a skier from Ronchi. NZ 101-5 in 16 overs.

Thisara strikes with Munro jabbing a short ball straight to Kulasekera at third man. NZ 93-5 in 14.4 overs.    

Chris Munro c Kulasekara b Thisara Perera 17 (19b 2x4 0x6)

Ronchi gets into the act now smashing consecutive boundaries off Mendis as New Zealand up the ante. NZ 92-4 in 14 overs.

Munro cracks consecutive boundaries off Mathews past backward point. NZ 80-4 in 13 overs.

Debutant Rambukwelle completes an excellent spell returning figures of 4-0-19-1.

Dilshan takes a brilliant overhead catch at cover point as Rambukwelle picks up his first international wicket. NZ 62-4 in 10.1 overs.

Tom Latham c Dilshan b Rambukwella 20 (24b 1x4 0x6)

Latham lofts Dilshan over the covers for his first boundary. NZ 62-3 in 10 overs.

Mendis strikes with his fourth delivery with Kulasekera taking the catch after the skier from Devcich popped out of Kusal's hands. NZ 49-3 in 7.4 overs.

Anton Devcich c Kulasekara b Mendis 30 (23b 4x4 1x6)

Malinga goes for 14 in his second over with Devcich slamming a six and a boundary. NZ 42-2 in 6 overs.

Devcich hits the first six of the match hoisting Malinga over midwicket.

Devcich gets another boundary cracking Rambukwelle through the covers. NZ 28-2 in 5 overs.

Devcich cuts Mathews through point for another boundary. NZ 18-2 in 3 overs.

Mathews also strikes in his opening over as Broom lofts a short ball straight to Mendis at mid-in. NZ 14-2 in 2.3 overs.
    
Neil Broom c Mendis b Mathews 6 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Devcich hits the first boundary of the match punching Kulasekera to long-on. NZ 12-1 in 2 overs.

Kulasekera strikes with his first delivery as left hander Rutherford nicks an away swinger to be caught behind. NZ 3-1 in 1.1 overs.

Hamish Rutherford c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 3 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Rutherford gets the first runs on board flicking an attempted yorker from Malinga for three runs. NZ 3-0 in 1 over.

Sri Lanka have won the toss and put New Zealand into bat in the second T20 international at Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Amazingly it is not raining in Pallekelle where the opening T20 match washed out without a ball being bowled two days ago.

Sri Lanka have handed a debut to Ramith Rambukwelle.

Kusal Perera and Ajantha Mendis are playing in place of Lahiru Thirimanne and Sachithra Senanayake.

PLAYING XI

Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Thisara Perera, Ramith Rambukwelle, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis.

New Zealand: Anton Devcich, Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi, Rob Nicol, Nathan McCullum, Andrew Ellis, Kyle Mills (captain), Mitchell McClenaghan.

 

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