New Zealand sealed the T20I series against Sri Lanka with an emphatic eight-wicket victory in the second match held in Colombo on Monday, thanks to a remarkable four-wicket haul by Lea Tahuhu and a composed half-century from Suzie Bates. This triumph came after New Zealand’s disappointing 2-1 loss in the ODI series.
Bates started the innings alongside Bernadine Bezuidenhout, and the pair stitched together a solid 48-run partnership for the opening wicket. While Bates played a steady role during this phase, she shifted gears during her 59-run alliance with Amelia Kerr, displaying her versatility. It was during this period that Bates reached her 26th half-century in T20Is. Her innovative strokeplay, including the effective use of the scoop and paddle shots, troubled the spinners as she cleverly used her footwork.
Inoka Ranaweera eventually dismissed Bates when she was caught at long-on, having scored a well-earned 52 off 53 balls. However, Kerr and Sophie Devine ensured there were no hiccups in the chase, calmly guiding New Zealand to victory.
Earlier in the match, after being put in to bat, Sri Lanka suffered an early setback when captain Chamari Athapaththu was run-out in the third over. Athapaththu played the ball towards the left of non-striker Vishmi Gunaratne and attempted a run that wasn’t there.
Tahuhu then made a significant impact by taking two wickets in her first over. Gunaratne was the first to go, as she chopped the ball onto her stumps while attempting a drive. Just two deliveries later, Tahuhu trapped Kavisha Dilhari lbw, leaving Sri Lanka reeling.
Following a brief interruption due to rain, Sri Lanka found hope in a 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Harshitha Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera. Samarawickrama kick-started her innings with a crisp cover drive off the first ball she faced. Perera top-scored with 33 runs. However, their dismissals in quick succession halted Sri Lanka’s momentum and prevented them from building a competitive total.
Anushka Sanjeewani and Nilakshi de Silva provided some late fireworks, adding 13 runs in a single over bowled by Leigh Kasperek, and managed to propel Sri Lanka past the 100-run mark. Nevertheless, the total proved to be inadequate against New Zealand’s dominant batting lineup.
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