Sri Lanka would be ruing their bad fielding that cost them the decisive Super 12 match against New Zealand who recovered from 15 for 3 wickets helped by two dropped chances off Glenn Phillips by Pathum Nissanka on 12 and on 45 by Dasun Shanaka, to hammering 104 off 64 balls in registering a 63-run win at the Sydney Cricket Ground today. Phillips exposed Sri Lanka’s ill prepared fielding as Pathum Nissanka blew the game away for Sri Lanka when he dropped a sitter off Phillips at long off off the bowling of Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva. Had that catch been taken New Zealand would have been reeling on 29 for 4 by the 7th over. The let off Shanaka was a difficult take at long off but are the dramatic ones that turn games.

It was dismaying to Sri Lankans by that hurting let off to New Zealand’s great escape on an ultimate 167 for 7 off 20. Sri Lanka’s batting was as pathetic folding up for 102 off 19.2 overs against the hostile bowling of Trent Boult’s career best 4 for 13.

Only skipper Dasun Shanaka 35 off 32 and Bhanuka Rajapaksa 34 off 22 reached double figures with the rest caving in against a tidy New Zealand attack with Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi taking 2 for 21 each respectively.

Phillips charmed knock contained 10 boundaries and 4 sixes in holding sway to the ultimate Player of the Match award. Sri Lanka’s injury replacement pacie Kasun Rajitha took 2 for 23.