New Zealand seal series

Wanindu Hasaranga is bowled out by Scott Kuggeleijn.jpg

Akila Dananjaya successfully appeals for the 

wicket of Tim Seifert

 Mitchell Santner successfully takes a catch to dismiss 

Avishka Fernando

Kusal Mendis plays a shot.

By Shamseer Jaleel

New Zealand took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three match T20I series as they beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in Pallekele last night for the second game running.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first in the second T20 in Pallekele. Both teams had a change each. Sri Lanka dropped Kasun Rajitha and brought in Lakshan Sandakan on a spin friendly wicket. Meanwhile New Zealand were unfortunate to lose out on their form player, Ross Taylor, to injury. Tom Bruce took his place.

Sri Lanka got off to a good start with Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis putting on 34 runs. But both fell in quick time to put Sri Lanka on the back foot. Avishka Fernando and Niroshan Dickwella then put on 68 for the third wicket. Once Fernando got out, two more quick wickets of Dasun Shanaka and Dickwella put Sri Lanka on the back foot again. Sri Lankan tailenders however did well to take the score to 161 at the end of the 20 overs. Dickwella (39) and Avishka (30) were the only significant scores for the home side who would have felt they were around 20 runs short of what they would have liked. Seth Rance (3), Tim Southee (2) and Scott Kuggeliegin (2) were among the wickets.

With the bat the kiwis once again had an ordinary start losing Collin Munro early. Akila Dhananjaya who was in peak bowling form at sent Seifert and Kuggeleijn back to the dressing room in no time to put the Kiwis in deep trouble at 38 for 3 to put the home side a real chance of tying the series. But it was short lived as the batting of Colin de Grandhomme was out of this world. He batted beautifully for his half ton. He cut, drove and pulled brilliantly in an innings that included two boundaries and three sixes. Taylor’s replacement Tom Bruce justified his selection with a fine supporting fifty. Though the Kiwis lost out de Grandhomme and Bruce in the final overs it was too late for Sri Lanka to make a comeback in to the game. There was a glimmer of a hope when Shehan Jayasuriya took a stunner in the deep in the final over, but collision with Kusal Mendis who was also going for the ball, saw his foot touch the ropes and a six awarded.

Sri Lanka, number 8 in the World T20I rankings, will need to wait for yet another game to taste victory in the last game on September 6 at the same venue.

Lasith Malinga will also have to wait for his 100th T20I wicket after going wicket-less in the second game.

-Pix by Chamila Karunarathne