By Srian Obeyesekere
Sri Lanka wilted under the fiery, bruising pace bowling of Lockie Ferguson who grabbed a spellbinding dream hat-trick in topnotches Kusal Janith Perera, Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka in a magic 2-over 3 for 7 spell before injury retiring as New Zealand made history defending their lowest T20 score of 108 to defeating the host nation by five runs to square the 2-match series in a drama filled action night play off when the Kiwi bowlers wrought havoc with the ball maximising a turning Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium turf dampened by ensuing rain yesterday with only Pathum Nissanka defiant with a run a ball 52.
The 33-year old Ferguson generated the type of express speed as he took over from skipper Mitchell Santner who clean bowled Kusal Mendis for 2 off the first delivery of his second over and the sixth of the innings to the hat-trick jolting having Kusal Janith snapped up behind by Hay for 3 off the last ball of his first over, and returning to undoing Sri Lanka’s reliable spade man Kamindu Mendis by a peach of a Yorker leg before wicket beaten by sheer pace, and next ball tempting the inform Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka to get his bat to a ball he could have let pass away on the leg side which he edged to the wicket-keeper.
Next man in Bhanuka Rajapaksa did buck the dire 4 for 34 New Zealand insulation scoring 15 off 13 with a boundary in 29 for the next wicket with Nissanka before giving wicket-keeper Hay his third catch off Michael Bracewell to Wanindu Hasaranga being dug out 11 runs later by Foulkes who had him held by substitute fielder H.M. Nicholls for 3 as the bowler added Dunith Wellalage to his bag for Hay’s fourth caught behind with Sri Lanka reeling on 82 for 7 into 15.5 overs.
Nissanka’s valiant lone man on the burning deck bravado ended having taken Sri Lanka past hundred in that Glenn Phillips one over 3-wicket magic perfect ending script of New Zealand’s wonderment with the ball in the wake of Ferguson’s flattening 2-over bout. He had Matheesha Pathirana stumped by Hay for a first ball duck and a delivery later the stuborn Maheesh Pathirana caught behind for 14 for a like brilliant behind the stumps 6-victim heist by Hay as New Zealand triumphed.
The Kiwi’s, put into bat, were in a like mess against the wily 4 for 17 take by a half fit Wanindu Hasaranga hobbling on virtually one leg by the recurring injury to the other, and pacer Matheesha Pathirana 3 for 11 as the scoreboard read 1-0, 2-6, 3-33, 4-33, 5-45 and 6 for 52 just past the halfway mark to going past hundred thanks to Will Young’s 30 off 32 filled with 3 boundaries.
New Zealand 108 all out (Robinson 30, Hasaranga 4-17) beat Sri Lanka 103 all out 19.3 overs (Nissanka 52, Ferguson 3-7) by five runs
