The flip of the coin landed in favor of Mitchell Santner as New Zealand elected to bowl first in the third and final T20I against Sri Lanka. Explaining his decision, Santner noted the overcast conditions and the fact that the pitch had been under covers, suggesting potential early assistance for the bowlers.
He praised the ground staff for their excellent work and stated that the team remains unchanged to provide young players with consistent opportunities.
Sri Lanka’s skipper Charith Asalanka, meanwhile, emphasized the need for his side to focus on the basics and improve their ability to finish games. He acknowledged issues with the middle order’s performance and announced two changes to the playing XI: Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Chamindu Wickramasinghe replace Matheesha Pathirana and Kamindu Mendis.
Series Recap
New Zealand has been dominant in the series, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match contest. The final match, scheduled for January 2, 2025, offers New Zealand the chance to complete a clean sweep, while Sri Lanka will aim for a consolation victory.
In the second T20I, New Zealand secured a 45-run win by defending a total of 186-5. Jacob Duffy’s stellar 4-15 helped bowl out Sri Lanka for 141 in 19.1 overs. This followed an intense first match where New Zealand narrowly defeated Sri Lanka by eight runs.
Duffy’s Impact
Jacob Duffy has been a key figure in New Zealand’s success. His second T20I spell, featuring critical dismissals of Pathum Nissanka (37) and Kusal Perera (48), proved decisive. Duffy’s pinpoint yorker to remove Perera in the 16th over ended Sri Lanka’s hopes of a chase, while his double strike in the 18th over crushed the tailenders’ resistance.
In the series opener, Duffy turned the game with a sensational over, claiming three wickets in four balls, including the scalp of Kusal Mendis, tilting the match in New Zealand’s favor.
Batting Brilliance
New Zealand’s batting unit has also impressed. In the second T20I, Tim Robinson’s aggressive 41 off 34 balls and Mark Chapman’s steady 42 off 29 set the platform. Daryl Mitchell provided the finishing touch, smashing 41 off 19 balls to boost the total on a challenging surface. Earlier, in the first game, Mitchell’s partnership with Michael Bracewell proved pivotal in setting a competitive score.
Sri Lanka’s Struggles
Sri Lanka has shown glimpses of brilliance, with Pathum Nissanka’s 96 in the first match and Kusal Perera’s 48 in the second. However, frequent collapses have cost them dearly. The middle order’s inability to build on strong starts has been a recurring issue.
With one match remaining, New Zealand aims to maintain their dominance, while Sri Lanka will seek to salvage pride in the series finale.