(ESPN Cricinfo) – After a first T20I that had been more akin to a smash and grab, New Zealand produced a much more team-centred effort to come away as comfortable winners in the second T20I, and with it secure the series 2-0. It means Sri Lanka’s long wait for a series win in New Zealand continues.
Having been set an imposing target of 187, Sri Lanka’s batting once more threatened for large parts before falling away at the death. Only Pathum Nissanka (37), Kusal Perera (48), and Charith Asalanka (20) provided any innings of substance, but with a long tail in tow, the hosts needed much more than that if they were to overhaul a spirited New Zealand outfit.
Jacob Duffy once more was at the forefront of proceedings, as he ensured strong efforts from Tim Robinson, Mark Chapman, and Mitch Hay would not be in vain. Duffy’s 4 for 15 was far and away the best bowling effort, as he provided crucial breakthroughs across Sri Lanka’s innings.
Kusal Mendis for 10 off the bowling of Mitchell Santner (ESPN Cricinfo Photo).
It was Hay, however, who took home the player-of-the-match award for his 19-ball 41. It was a knock that took New Zealand’s total from a middling one to above par and put his side ahead of the game – a position that they scarcely looked like letting go of from that point on.
Duffy does it again
In the first T20I it was Duffy’s single-over triple-strike that signposted Sri Lanka’s monumental collapse. In the second game, while not as explosive – this time he spread his scalps over all four of his overs – his impact was just as telling.
Mitchell Santner too was clever in his use of Duffy, bringing him on initially in spells of just one over each, before a critical two-over burst at the death. The tactic worked a charm, as after a wicket-less first over, he picked up a wicket off the first delivery of each of his subsequent three overs. Pathum Nissanka was the first to go, bringing an end to the opener’s threatening 38 off 27. Duffy was then brought back in the midst of another threatening stand when Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka had put on 31 off 20, only for Perera to fall for a 35-ball 48.
A third first-ball strike to remove Wanindu Hasaranga, followed by the dismissal of Maheesh Theekshana two balls later, ended another fine day out for Duffy.
Sri Lankan strike rates a concern?
Sri Lanka once more flattered to deceive with the bat, and while this defeat was not anywhere near as egregious as the loss in the first game, there will be question marks surrounding their inability to finish an innings strongly.
Once more a solid platform was laid – 72 for 2 at the halfway mark – but they ended up bowled out for 141 by the start of the 20th over. And among their primary concerns might be an inability to score runs quickly enough.
Even the batters that got runs were unable to strike at more than 140 – a stark contrast from New Zealand, who had three batters hit at a rate above 140, including Hay, who struck at 215 – while another area to improve might be the running between the wickets; New Zealand ran 14 twos as opposed to Sri Lanka running just five.
New Zealand’s controlled aggression
Having been asked to bat first once more, only three of the opening 10 overs didn’t include a boundary, and five of those overs went for at least 10 runs. This meant that even Sri Lanka’s better bowlers on the day weren’t ever able to build any sort of concerted pressure, while others were barely allowed to even settle. Much of this was down to the measured intent shown by Robinson and Chapman, with both batters comfortable in using their feet to shift Sri Lanka’s bowlers off their lengths. Theekshana, usually among Sri Lanka’s more economical bowlers, was targeted in particular, going for 20 off his first two before being taken out of the attack. The express Matheesha Pathirana wasn’t safe either, with Chapman twice coming down the track to dispatch him – first over the covers and then a wallop over deep midwicket. More importantly, New Zealand was diligent in their running between the wickets, constantly searching for possibilities to turn singles into twos. This meant that while Binura Fernando, Hasaranga, and Nuwan Thushara had never really looked under any sort of pressure, New Zealand somehow managed to rack up 86 by the halfway point.
Hay finally shines
Despite New Zealand’s strong start, Sri Lanka might have been happy with how the game had panned out by the 18th over. Sixty-six runs and three wickets in the eight overs since the 10th had brought about the distinct possibility that New Zealand might not even make the 172 they had in the first game.
And it might have been the case too, if not for Hay. His first three T20Is – all against Sri Lanka – had brought two ducks and a grand total of three runs. But here, against two of Sri Lanka’s wiliest bowlers, Hay belatedly announced himself on the international stage. In a 19-ball cameo – more than doubling the number of deliveries he had faced in his previous three T20Is combined – Hay bludgeoned 41 runs, including four fours and two sixes. Having bided his time initially, taking 12 off 9, he clattered 29 off his next 10.
Theekshana was the first to get the treatment, with two monster hits down the ground the highlight of an 18-run penultimate over. Hay then turned his attention to Sri Lanka’s most economical bowler up to that point – Binura – smartly dispatching him for two boundaries, including an audacious scoop, to ensure 34 runs off the final two overs – and 100 off the final 10.
