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NZ vs SL 1st T20I Highlights: Duffy, Henry Resist Nissanka Rampage As Mitchell, Bracewell 50s Secure NZ Win

Michael Bracewell and Daryl Mitchell [Source: @BLACKCAPS/x]Michael Bracewell and Daryl Mitchell [Source: @BLACKCAPS/x]

New Zealand ambushed Sri Lanka by initiating a late collapse during a tight chase to go 1-0 up in the three-match T20I series. Taking field at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand fast bowlers Jacob Duffy and Matt Henry took the wheels out of Sri Lankan’s early rampage after middle-order batters Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell clubbed blistering half-centuries in the first half of the game.

Here’s the timeline of how NZ vs SL panned out in Mount Maunganui:

NZ vs SL Highlights: New Zealand Top-Order Falter With Five Down In 10 Overs

Shortly after winning the toss and electing to field, Sri Lankan seamer Binura Fernando struck twice with the new ball by getting rid of both New Zealand openers, Tim Robinson and Rachin Ravindra early in the innings. Mark Chapman at number three was done-in by a short delivery from Matheesha Pathirana after reaching just 15 while ace Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Hay off successive deliveries in the 10th over of the match.

By losing wickets in constant intervals, New Zealand reached a sluggish 65-5 at the halfway stage of the innings.

NZ vs SL Highlights: Daryl Mitchell, Bracewell 50s Lift New Zealand To 172-8

Middle-order batters Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell staged New Zealand’s remarkable recovery with a 105-run sixth wicket partnership. Blazing the ‘Black Caps’ to 170 runs at one stage of the final over, both cricketers clubbed blistering half-centuries, with Mitchell delivering the top-scoring act by whacking 62 off 42 balls with four boundaries and two sixes.

Bracewell, from his end, clobbered four huge sixes and four boundaries in his sizzling 33-ball 59 until both well-set batters were out stumped by Kusal Mendis off 24-year-old off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana (2-29) in the final over of the innings. With Mitchell and Bracewell’s rearguard rebellion, the New Zealanders ended up forming a competitive 172-8 from their 20 overs.

NZ vs SL Highlights: Nissanka, Kusal Mendis Devour NZ With 121-Run Stand

Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis laid out the big guns early in the visitor’s chase of 173. Extracting 56 runs from the six wicketless powerplay overs, Nissanka and Mendis went from strength to strength to blaze to a team 100 well inside the first 12 overs of the innings.

Nissanka listed his 14th T20I half-century during his 121-run opening partnership with Mendis, who chipped in with 46 fluent runs from just 36 balls with six boundaries and a six from his end.

NZ vs SL Highlights: Duffy, Henry Snatch An Unlikely Victory For New Zealand

New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy tilted the tide back in his team’s favor by taking three wickets in the space of just four deliveries to wreck Sri Lanka’s top order from 121-0 to 121-3 in 14 overs. Pace mates Zakary Foulkes (2-41) and Matt Henry (2-28) also kept delivering timely breakthroughs from the other end in the decisive moments of the game to keep Sri Lanka eight runs down of their target.

The visitors, once comfortably placed at 145-3, lost their next five wickets for just 19 runs as a late batting collapse handed New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.