In a nail-biting finish, Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand in a thrilling Super Over in the first T20I match held on Sunday. Spinner Ish Sodhi's heroic efforts went in vain as Sri Lanka emerged victorious in a captivating game at the Eden Park in Auckland.
The visitors posted a competitive total of 196/5 in their 20 overs after Charith Asalanka's incredible 41-ball 67. Kusal Mendis got Sri Lanka off to a blistering start with a quickfire 25 off nine balls, while Kusal Perera remained unbeaten with a gritty knock of 53 runs from 45 balls.
In their chase, New Zealand suffered an early setback, losing two wickets for just three runs within the first seven balls. The hosts' inning was revived by Daryl Mitchell's impressive 66 and Mark Chapman's 33, but it was the explosive hitting by Rachin Ravindra, who blasted 26 off 13 balls, that brought the Kiwis close to the target.
However, Sri Lankan pacer Dilshan Madushanka conceded 45 runs from his three overs, while Wanindu Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka claimed two wickets each for 30 and 20 runs respectively.
With New Zealand needing 13 runs from the final over to win the match, Ish Sodhi and Henry Shipley scrambled six runs from the first five balls, setting up a thrilling finale. Leg-spinner Sodhi then flicked Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka high over mid-wicket for a six to tie the match and send it into a Super Over decider.
In the Super Over, spinner Maheesh Theekshana bowled exceptionally well, restricting the Black Caps to just nine runs, which Charith Asalanka easily overhauled with a six and a four off Kiwi quick Adam Milne.
Although Sodhi's final-ball six to tie the game boosted New Zealand's morale, they lost two crucial wickets in the tie-breaker, which impacted their chances of putting up a competitive total.
The thrilling game has set the tone for the rest of the series, and both teams will aim to deliver an equally enthralling performance in the upcoming matches.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 196/5 in 20 overs (Charith Asalanka 67, Kusal Perera 53 not out, Kusal Mendis 25; James Neesham 2-30) beat New Zealand 196/8 in 20 overs (Daryl Mitchell 66, Mark Chapman 33, Rachin Ravindra 26; Dasun Shanaka 2-20, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-30, Pramod Madushan 2-37) the match in a one-over eliminator.