SL VS NZ 1ST T20I

Right then, we are done with the 1st T20I in Dambulla and it is a quick turnaround for the 2nd and final T20I which will be played in less than 24 hours at the very same ground as the Kiwis look to salvage the series. The game will begin at 1.30 pm GMT on Sunday, 10 November but you can join well an hour in advance for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye.

Charith Asalanka, the captain of Sri Lanka is also the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his anchoring innings. Asalanka says that they were a bit nervous but his plan was to bat till the end and the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage did really well. Reckons they could have restricted New Zealand to 10-15 runs less but the tailenders batted well. Adds that as a team it doesn't matter because everyone plays spin well and they are confident about it as well. Mentions that they are going forward well and hopefully, there's more to come.

The captain of New Zealand, Mitchell Santner says that they did well to get to 130 but lauds the Sri Lankan spinners for the way they bowled. Feels that a couple of good knocks took the game away from them. Shares that at the start of the game, their aim was to get to 160 but looking at the wicket, they reassessed their target to 150. Tells that it is a privilege to lead the side and they have a young group where everyone is eager to learn. Further says that they have a lot of ODI and T20I cricket coming up, so this is the start of a campaign for them.

The presentation ceremony...

Kusal Perera is down for a quick chat. He says the wicket was doing something for the spinners all the time. Further adds that 130 wasn't par but they still needed to bat well. About the new ball, he says that it was gripping and turning right throughout and it was difficult for the batters to play their shots. Further says that they had to take risks in order to create momentum and after that, they looked to milk the singles in the middle overs. Cheekily mentions that sweeping the spinners was his joy while batting.

Earlier in the game, Mitchell Santner had no hesitation in batting first as there was no rain but the Black Caps weren't able to get going inside the Powerplay. They were 31/3 at the end of the Powerplay and all three Lankan frontline spinners had taken a wicket each by then. The bowlers continued to dominate in the middle phase but Michael Bracewell mustered up a few runs and late on, Zakary Foulkes played a fiery cameo to get New Zealand to 135 runs. The score still was under-par and in the end, it wasn't a winning total which everyone suspected at the halfway interval.

New Zealand will be disappointed with the loss but they will take a lot of heart from this performance as well. The way they fought back late with the bat and then they kept on pressing with the ball as well. On a track that seemed to be suiting the spinners, it was young pacer Zakary Foulkes who picked up 3 wickets and just looked in control every time he came on to bowl. The spinners did pick up wickets but eventually, Sri Lanka just hit more boundaries and had more contributions with the bat.

A bit too close for comfort but Sri Lanka have managed to get over the line in this first T20I which means they cannot lose the series and their strong home form continues with another win. Chasing 136 for victory, Sri Lanka huffed and puffed early on but the top order went hard in the Powerplay and the likes of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera managed to take the sting out of the chase a bit. However, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals before skipper Charith Asalanka decided to take matters into his own hands putting up decent stands with Kamindu Mendis and then Wanindu Hasaranga and eventually, they just had enough individual scores of 20 plus to emerge victorious.

SIX! BANG! Clean strike from Wellalage to finish things off! Duffy bowls the slower one and bashes it into the wicket, on off and middle. This sits up nicely for Wellalage who waits for the ball to arrive and smokes it over deep mid-wicket. Clears the fence with ease for a biggie. Sri Lanka win by 4 wickets with an over to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the series!

Back to banging into the deck and at pace, on off, Dunith Wellalage backs away to slap it away on the off side but gets beaten due to the lift off the deck.

FOUR! Gets it through and that should do it for Sri Lanka! Duffy slants it in but offers pace this time and this is a bit too full as well. Dunith Wellalage gets underneath it and drills it in the gap between cover and mid off for a boundary. Just 2 runs needed now.

Two dots in a row! Duffy rolls his fingers over the ball and bowls it a bit fuller, on off, Dunith Wellalage is done in by the slowness of the delivery as he looks to play at it. Gets beaten all ends up and the ball goes on the bounce to the keeper.

This is on a back of a length, on off, Dunith Wellalage backs away and tries to carve it away on the off side but gets beaten for pace.

Angled in, on a length, on off, Charith Asalanka gets close to the line of the ball as he shuffles across and swings for the hills. Gets an outside edge that goes down to deep third. Ish Sodhi gets around to his right and cuts it off. They cross.

Foulkes goes short, at the helmet of the batter, Dunith Wellalage ducks and lets it go.

On a fullish length, on middle and leg, Charith Asalanka flicks it through mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Dug in short but it is the slower one, on off and middle, Charith Asalanka gets on top of the bounce and pulls it in front of square on the leg side for a couple of runs.