Sri Lanka vs. NZ T20 Malinga’s five floors NZ

By Shamseer Jaleel 

reporting from Pallekelle

Sri Lanka skipper, Lasith Malinga took 5 wickets and ended New Zealand’s winning streak in the T20I when the home team beat the visitors by 38 runs at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium last night under lights.

Lahiru Madushanka replaced Shehan Jayasuriya while Dhanushka Gunathilake came in place of injured Kusal Mendis. Meanwhile New Zealand lost out on Martin Guptill and Tom Bruce. They were replaced by Hamish Rutherford, son of former New Zealand opener. Ken Rutherford, and Ross Taylor.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first. They put on a good 31 runs for the first wicket with Dhanushka Gunathilake scoring at a brisk pace but the home team lost out Kusal Perera for 1. They never were on top of the Kiwis bowlers as they lost regular wickets. Only Niroshan Dickwella was in cracking form in his brief knock. But he lost his wicket when he was on top for 24 in only 15 balls. Sri Lanka ended on 125 for 8 in their 20 overs which was the lowest out of the three T20 encounters at Pallekelle against New Zealand in this series.

New Zealand taking the lease of the wicket never got on top of the Sri Lankan bowlers. It was none other than their skipper, Lasith Malinga who was unplayable. He was spot on with his deliveries. He not only took the first five Kiwis wicket but also went over 100 wickets in the T20I format. He becomes the only bowler to take more than 100 wickets in this format. Munro, Seifert, Rutherford, Grandhomme and Taylor all were his victims - four of which were taken off four consecutive deliveries, a world record. Taylor who was in peak form at Pallekelle too lost out his wicket edging to the slips. Akila Dhananjaya chipped in with 2 wickets. At one stage Kiwis were struggling at 52 for 9 but skipper Southee played a hurricane knock of an unbeaten 28 but it was not enough for the visitors to have a clean sweep in the series. This was the lowest total for the New Zealand at this venue.

New Zealand won the T20 series 2-1 while the Test series was drawn at one apiece.

Scorecard

Sri Lanka 125 for 8 in 20 overs

Dhanushka Gunathilake 30, Niroshan Dickwella 24, Lahiru Madushanka 20

M Santner 3 for 12, T Aslie 3 for 28

New Zealand 88 in 16 overs

Tim Southee 28 not out

Lasith Malinga 5 for 6, Akila Dhananjaya 2 for 28

Man of the Match Lasith Malinga

Man of the Series Tim Southee