QUEENSTOWN: New Zealand bounces back to level series with a comprehensive win against Sri Lanka in the second T20 international at Queenstown. Tim Seifert’s unbeaten 79 off 43 balls and Adam Milne’s five-wicket haul played pivotal roles in the hosts’ emphatic nine-wicket victory.
The match also created history as Kim Cotton became the first female umpire to officiate in a men’s international cricket match between two full-member countries.
After losing the toss, Sri Lanka started poorly, losing their openers cheaply. The middle order recovered well through Kusal Perera’s 35 and Dhananjaya de Silva’s 37, but the innings faltered in the second half, losing their last eight wickets for just 50 runs.
Adam Milne, who returned career-best figures of 5-26, picked up three wickets in the final over to bowl Sri Lanka out for 141 runs in 19 overs.
New Zealand’s successful chase
Chasing 142, New Zealand started explosively with Chad Bowes (31) smashing four boundaries in the second over off Dilshan Madushanka, who was taken off the attack after conceding 18 runs.
Tim Seifert then took the attack to the opposition, hitting six sixes in his match-winning knock.
He was ably supported by skipper Tom Latham (20 not out) as the Kiwis chased down the target in just 14.4 overs, winning the game with 5.2 overs to spare.
Sri Lanka’s cause was not helped by their poor fielding, dropping both Seifert and Latham.
The result sets up an exciting decider on Saturday at the same venue.
