New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Archives

Uncapped explosive batter called up in New Zealand squad for Sri Lanka series

Hard-hitting New Zealand batter Bevon Jacobs earned a maiden call-up on Monday for their T20I series against Sri Lanka, which marks the start of Mitchell Santner’s tenure as white-ball captain.

Jacobs has turned heads since bursting on the domestic scene last year and was a surprise pick-up by Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction this month.

New Zealand will face Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series, starting on Saturday in Mount Maunganui followed by three ODIs from January 5.

It’s worth noting that this ODI series will be New Zealand’s last before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by Pakistan.

However, Jacobs has been included in the T20I squad only.

“It’s obviously an exciting time for Bevon and his family,” said selector Sam Wells “He’s a promising player with a lot of talent and we’re looking forward to exposing him to international cricket.”

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“He’s clearly got a lot of power with the bat, but he’s also shown in the longer formats that he has a decent technique and temperament.”

Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Matt Henry all return to the white-ball squads after missing last month’s trip to Sri Lanka to prepare for the just-finished England Test series.

Henry leads a youthful pace attack which includes Zac Foulkes, Will O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy and all-rounder Nathan Smith.

Santner is the frontline spin option, alongside all-rounders Ravindra, Michael Bracewell and Glenn Phillips.

Kane Williamson and Devon Conway are playing in South Africa’s SA20 competition and were unavailable while Ben Sears (knee) and Kyle Jamieson (back) continue their rehabilitation from injury.

New Zealand squads for the series against Sri Lanka

T20I squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Nathan Smith

ODI squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Will Young

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New Zealand crush Sri Lanka to diminish Pakistan’s semi-final hopes

BENGALURU: New Zealand’s all-round brilliance propelled them to crush Sri Lanka by five wickets and bolstered their chances to reach the ICC World Cup 2023 semi-finals.

Chasing a modest 172, New Zealand achieved the total for the loss of five wickets and 160 balls to spare and further improved their net run-rate.

They strengthened their fourth position in the standings with 10 points in nine matches and a decent net run rate of 0.74.

Former champions Pakistan, who are in fifth position with eight points in as many matches will now need to win their last ICC World Cup 2023 fixture against England with a massive margin of as low as 287 runs to go past New Zealand in the standings.

If they bowl first then they would have to beat England with 284 balls to spare, which means they will have to chase down the target in just 2.4 overs.

But it was not the easiest of run chases for New Zealand as they lost five wickets to complete the pursuit despite a commanding start.

Glenn Phillips (17) and Tom Latham (2) then made sure there were no more hiccups in the run chase and steered New Zealand over the line in the 24th over.

Opening batter Devon Conway remained the top-scorer for New Zealand with a 42-ball 45. He was followed by his opening partner Rachin Ravindra, who scored 43 and Daryl Mitchell (43).

Angelo Mathews led the bowling attack for Sri Lanka with 2/29 in his four overs, while Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera made one scalp each.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson opted to bowl first and his bowlers justified the decision reducing Sri Lanka to 70-5 inside the first ten overs.

Sri Lanka’s opening batter Kusal Perera was the only batter who posed a threat to New Zealand’s brilliant bowling, scoring a majority of the team’s total.

He scored a blistering 51 run-knock from 28 balls, with the help of nine boundaries and two sixes.

Sri Lanka further slipped to 105-7, bringing Maheesh Theekshana to the ground with New Zealand eyeing to wrap things up quickly.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Theekshana stood on the other end, as he lost two partners before Dilshan Madushanka joined him and together they knitted a cautious 43-run partnership for the last wicket from 87 balls.

Theekshana played his career-best knock in ODI cricket, scoring an unbeaten 38 runs from 91 balls with the help of three boundaries, while his partner Madushanka scored 19, his highest individual in any form of cricket.

Rachin Ravindra finally ended the frustrating partnership, as Madushanka got caught behind, thus ending the Sri Lankan innings at 171.

Trent Boult topped the wickets chart for New Zealand, while Ravindra, Lockie Ferguson and Mitchell Santner picked two wickets each.

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NZ vs SL: New Zealand win toss, elect to field first against Sri Lanka

BENGALURU: New Zealand have won the toss and elected to field first against Sri Lanka in the 41st ICC World Cup 2023 match at M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c)(wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

New Zealand

Devon Conway, Kane Williamson (c), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tom Latham (wk), Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD:

Overall ODIs: Matches 101, New Zealand 51, Sri Lanka 41, NR 8, Tied 1

ODI World Cup: Matches 11, New Zealand 5, Sri Lanka 6

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Seifert blasts New Zealand to T20 series win over Sri Lanka

QUEENSTOWN: Tim Seifert was the match-winner for the second straight game as New Zealand clinched the T20 series against Sri Lanka with a tense four-wicket victory in Queenstown on Saturday.

Seifert blasted a career-high 88 off 48 balls to fire the Black Caps to 183-6 from 19.5 overs after the tourists had posted 182-6 in the third and final game at John Davies Oval.

The opener struck 10 fours and three sixes in an innings that bore many of the hallmarks of his unbeaten 79 when New Zealand levelled the series at Dunedin on Wednesday.

Captain Tom Latham provided the only meaningful support with 31 off 23 and New Zealand’s middle order nearly conspired to lose the game after Seifert departed with four overs remaining.

Needing to score at little more than a run-a-ball at that stage, the Black Caps stuttered.

Needing 10 runs to win off the final over bowled by Lahiru Kumara (3-38), Mark Chapman struck a six off the first ball before he was the first of three New Zealand wickets to fall.

With two still needed off the last two deliveries, Rachin Ravindra held his nerve to find a gap in the outfield and secure the 2-1 series win.

Latham conceded the run chase should not have become so tight at the death.

“They put us under pressure so it was good to see the way the guys responded to that,” Latham said.

“The way Timmy Seifert went out there and played was really important but obviously it wasn’t ideal going down to the last couple of balls.

“I’d say we always had it under control though.”

It completes a disappointing tour for Sri Lanka, who lost the Test and ODI series by the same 2-0 scoreline but were more competitive in the shortest format.

Captain Dasun Shanaka said his team adjusted gradually to New Zealand conditions and suggested Sri Lankan cricket officials should take careful note.

“I think it’s about preparation. We should make sure when we come here again, we should come at least two weeks, three weeks before we play,” Shanaka said.

“Once we got into the T20 series we started looking a different team.”

Sri Lanka gave themselves a shot at victory after Kusal Mendis struck a rapid 73 off 48 balls, taking full advantage after being dropped by Daryl Mitchell at slip when on 10.

The opener-wicketkeeper went on to hit six fours and five sixes in his 12th half-century, falling just short of his career-high score of 79.

Having been asked to bat, Mendis was the dominant figure in an opening stand of 76 with Pathum Nissanka (25 off 25), before putting on a further 46 with Kusal Perera (33 off 21).

Wickets fell rapidly over the closing overs, preventing the tourists from going close to 200.

Seifert has not been included in New Zealand’s squad for the white ball tour of Pakistan beginning on Friday as he is expecting the arrival of his first child.

Sri Lanka’s next assignment is a two-Test home series against Ireland, beginning on April 16.

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New Zealand thrash Sri Lanka in second T20I to level series

DUNEDIN: New Zealand breezed past Sri Lanka with a commanding nine-wicket win in the second Twenty20 international to level the series on Wednesday after opener Tim Seifert top-scored with 79 not out.

Kiwi bowler Adam Milne took a five-wicket haul for just 26 runs in a man-of-the-match performance as Sri Lanka were bundled out for just 141 runs after they were put into bat.

“You always dream of taking five wickets for New Zealand. As I had three in the last over with a couple of tailenders in, I started feeling a little bit greedy,” Milne said in a post-match talk.

Seifert then helped New Zealand chase the target in just 14.4 overs for the loss of opener Chad Bowes.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham expressed satisfaction over his side’s ‘clinical performance”.

“The way we were just able to keep taking wickets, that’s the best way really to stall a run rate,” he said

“I thought our bowling performance was outstanding.”

With the victory in today’s game, New Zealand levelled the series 1-1 after Sri Lanka won the opening T20 in Auckland on Sunday. The final T20I and series decider will be played in Queensland on Saturday.

Milne’s impressive bowling display sailed New Zealand to a comfortable position as they were set to chase a paltry 142.

Opener Bowes was caught after hitting 31 off 15 balls before Seifert breathed fire in a partnership of 106 alongside Latham, who finished 20 not out.

Seifert then wrapped up the game in style with a couple of massive hits

Earlier. Kusal Perera (35) and Dhananjaya de Silva (37) held the fort for the visitors with a middle-order partnership of 62 off 46 and took the scoreboard to 99-4 after 12 overs.

The tourists then underwent a dismal batting collapse by losing their next six wickets for just 42 runs as New Zealand’s seamers found their length to devastating effect.

Charith Asalanka was the last Sri Lankan batter to offer any resistance, contributing 24 runs off 19 balls.

Milne led the charge for New Zealand, picking off Sri Lanka’s tailenders Dilshan Madushanka and Pramod Madushan without a run being scored.

“We got a good start but lost the momentum in the middle,” said Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka, who paid credit to Milne’s superb bowling.

“Losing wickets at regular intervals cost us the game.”

It may be noted here that Sri Lanka have lost both the Test and one-day international series 2-0 during their ongoing tour of New Zealand.

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Sri Lanka seal dramatic Super Over win in first T20I against New Zealand

AUCKLAND: Sri Lanka claimed a dramatic Super Over win in the opening match of their three-game Twenty20 series against New Zealand on Sunday to earn their first victory on tour.

The match went to a tie-break decider after both teams chalked up 196 runs in a high-scoring thriller at Auckland’s Eden Park.

New Zealand only made 8-2 off a tight Super Over bowled by spinner Maheesh Theekshana before Charith Asalanka smashed a six off the second ball of Sri Lanka’s response, then sealed victory with a four.

“That was a really nervous game and at the end, it’s our day,” said Asalanka.

“I tried to hit boundaries because I back myself.

“Momentum is most important for a team like us, a young team, and we’re hoping to do well,” he said ahead of the second T20 game in Dunedin on Wednesday before the three-game series concludes in Queenstown next Saturday.

The nail-biter in Auckland handed Sri Lanka their first win on a month-long tour of New Zealand after losing both the Test and one-day international series by the same 2-0 scoreline.

Black Caps tailender Ish Sodhi had earlier set up the Super Over finish when he tied the scores by calmly hoisting the last ball of their 50 overs for six off Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka.

It completed a run chase that always looked unlikely for the home side but came alive when Rachin Ravindra scored 26 off 13 balls to follow key knocks from Daryl Mitchell (66 off 44) and Mark Chapman (33 off 23).

It left New Zealand needing 13 to win off the final over, a task that became harder to achieve when Adam Milne fell to the first delivery bowled by Shanaka.

“To climb our way back in our innings was outstanding and I thought for ‘Ish’ to hit that six was quite dramatic but it wasn’t meant to be,” said New Zealand captain Tom Latham.

“Super Overs can go either way, but we fell on the wrong side today.”

Theekshana was a key performer for Sri Lanka with the ball, conceding 1-22 off four miserly overs, while fellow spinner Wanindu Hasaranga took 2-30 as New Zealand struggled for enough momentum through the early overs.

Left-hander Asalanka top-scored in Sri Lanka’s 196-5, striking six sixes in a rapid 67 off 41 balls.

He put on 103 for the fourth wicket with Kusal Perera, who returned from a long-term shoulder injury in style.

The experienced Perera scored a controlled 53 not out off 45 balls in what was his first match for Sri Lanka in any format since the 2021 T20 World Cup, having spent nearly 18 months out.

Kusal Mendis started the run-fest by blasting 25 off just nine deliveries, having lost opening partner Pathum Nissanka to the first ball of the match bowled by Milne.

New Zealand struggled for timing in the Super Over, losing the wickets of Jimmy Neesham and Mark Chapman, who struck a lone boundary.

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Christchurch washout hits Sri Lanka World Cup hopes

CHRISTCHURCH: Sri Lanka’s hopes of securing automatic qualification for the World Cup took a major blow on Tuesday when heavy rain and gusting winds forced the second one-day international against New Zealand to be abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Steady rain meant the covers stayed on all day at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, with organisers calling the match off at 1630 local time (0330 GMT) with more showers forecast.

As a result the two teams split the points which further damages Sri Lanka’s designs on a place in the top eight of the Super League, who automatically qualify for the World Cup in India in October and November.

Having also lost the first ODI in the three-match series, Sri Lanka are now ninth in the table with 82 points, six points behind West Indies.

To make the top eight, Sri Lanka must win the third ODI against New Zealand in three days’ time and pray that South Africa lose at least once in their upcoming series against the Netherlands, and that Ireland fail to beat Bangladesh 3-0 when they meet in May.

The teams missing out on the top eight will go into a repechage 10-team tournament in Zimbabwe in June and July from which the final two teams will emerge.

New Zealand have already qualified for the World Cup and are now guaranteed to finish as Super League table-toppers even if they lose the third ODI in Hamilton on Friday.

Sri Lanka have lost all three tour games played so far in New Zealand, including a 2-0 whitewash in the Test series.

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New Zealand’s Shipley tears through Sri Lanka in 198-run ODI thrashing

AUCKLAND: Henry Shipley tore through Sri Lanka’s batting line-up as New Zealand romped to a 198-run win in the first one-day international in Auckland on Saturday.

Playing just his fourth match for the Black Caps, tall seamer Shipley took 5-31 as the tourists were skittled for 76 at Eden Park, their lowest ODI score against New Zealand.

Sri Lanka’s capitulation in just 19.5 overs was their fifth-heaviest loss by runs to any ODI opponent, and New Zealand’s seventh-biggest win.

The visitors never recovered after slumping to 31-5, with only three batters reaching double figures, including top scorer Angelo Mathews (18).

It comes just two months after Sri Lanka’s world-record 317-run loss to India in Thiruvananthapuram — when they were skittled for 73.

Their batters succumbed to a series of loose shots allowing Shipley to claim New Zealand’s first five-wicket bag in the format for more than four years.

The 26-year-old worried his opponents with steep bounce and pace, prompting a series of shots to be lofted aimlessly to waiting fielders.

Daryl Mitchell took 2-12 and Matt Henry 2-20 in an innings that lasted little more than an hour and a half.

Earlier, Chamika Karunaratne claimed four wickets in a career-best bowling display for Sri Lanka as New Zealand were dismissed for 274 after being asked to bat.

Opener Finn Allen top-scored with 51 but he was one of several Black Caps guilty of not pushing on after making a start.

Allen’s 49-ball knock helped the hosts into a strong position with nearly half of their overs remaining. But they lost their way over the latter stages and were dismissed with three balls remaining.

Karunaratne took 4-43 off nine overs, with New Zealand’s batsmen mostly falling to shots that ballooned into the outfield.

All-rounder Rachin Ravindra departed late in the innings for 49 on his ODI debut while Mitchell scored 47 and Glenn Phillips 39.

Seamers Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara, who both played in Sri Lanka’s 2-0 Test series loss to New Zealand, took two wickets each.

The tourists needed a clean sweep of the three-match series to take an automatic World Cup berth.

With that no longer a possibility, they are increasingly likely to be forced to play in a qualifying tournament in June-July.

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New Zealand demolish Sri Lanka to sweep Test series

WELLINGTON: New Zealand claimed victory against Sri Lanka by an innings and 58 runs on Monday to secure a 2-0 Test series whitewash despite a late fightback from the visitors.

Sri Lanka notched just 164 in their first innings and were asked to follow on after the Black Caps declared at 580 in Wellington. They were then bowled out for 358.

“It was nice to get the win finished off, especially as the weather forecast wasn’t great, which is part of the reason why we asked for the follow on,” said New Zealand captain Tim Southee.

“It’s been a pleasing few weeks in the whites with a number of guys stepping up at different times,” he added with New Zealand on three straight Test wins including last month’s thrilling victory over England to level that series 1-1.

New Zealand stuck to their task after Dhananjaya de Silva launched a fightback on Monday, passing 3,000 Test runs before being caught on 98, missing a 10th Test century.

The home seamers had already sniffed victory when they broke his 76-run partnership with debutant wicketkeeper Nishan Madushka, who was caught just before the tea break.

The loss of de Silva signalled the end of the resistance — Sri Lanka lost their last three wickets for 40 runs as the tailenders were picked off.

Southee and New Zealand seamer Blair Tickner did most of the damage with three wickets apiece.

‘Really disappointing’

After Sri Lanka resumed the day on 113-2, New Zealand’s pace attack offered no respite in the first over of Monday as Matt Henry’s delivery saw Kane Williamson catch Kusal Mendis on 50.

The visitors were in danger of folding at 116-4 soon after when Angelo Mathews also walked having added just two runs from 44 balls.

De Silva slowed New Zealand’s momentum in a partnership of 126 alongside Dinesh Chandimal in the first session, which ended when Tickner had Chandimal caught on 62 just before lunch.

De Silva maintained the resistance after the break by pairing up with Madushka, but their dismissals for no runs either side of tea left Sri Lanka still 98 runs short.

Kasun Rajitha took Sri Lanka past 350 runs with a four, a lucky edge that went past Michael Bracewell in the slips.

Bracewell made no mistake the second time with a diving catch to claim Lahiru Kumara’s wicket off Southee.

Asitha Fernando survived a review after the ball clipped his trousers rather than his leg pad, but New Zealand sealed the victory when Rajitha was caught by Williamson, the hosts’ top-scorer with a double century in the first innings.

“It’s a really disappointing series for us. After doing really well in the first Test, we couldn’t do anything better here,” admitted Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne.

“We couldn’t hold our line bowling which cost us and our batters couldn’t get a big score, so those are areas we need to work on.”

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Dominant New Zealand close on series sweep of Sri Lanka

WELLINGTON: New Zealand maintained their dominance over Sri Lanka in the second Test on Sunday, enforcing a follow-on and setting up the likelihood of a series clean sweep with two days to play.

The tourists reached 113-2 in their second innings at stumps on day three but still trailed by 303 runs at Wellington’s Basin Reserve.

They need a massive turnaround to avoid defeat after being skittled out for 164 in their first innings in response to the Black Caps’ 580-4 declared.

Starting off with a deficit of 416 runs, they showed more fight in their second turn at bat.

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne posted his second half-century of the day before being dismissed by counterpart Tim Southee for 51, caught in the deep after fellow-opener Oshada Fernando had been removed cheaply.

Kusal Mendis was at the crease on 50 and Angelo Mathews unbeaten on one off 40 balls, with the pair seeing off the last 11.5 overs in stoic fashion.

Sri Lanka’s best hopes of saving the Test could rest with the weather.

Rain is forecast for the final day, meaning they could force a stalemate if they can successfully bat through Monday, when cold, blustery conditions are expected and may make life uncomfortable for New Zealand in the field.

The tourists’ slim hope of winning to square the two-match series was effectively ended by a slew of rash shots which derailed their first innings.

The tail succumbed rapidly during a chaotic second session, with the last six wickets tumbling for 50 runs in the space of 15.1 overs despite the wicket playing relatively true.

Only three batters reached double figures in the first innings, including Karunaratne, who was the ninth man out for 89.

The gritty opener had looked to be digging the visitors out of a deep hole when he and Dinesh Chandimal put on 80 for the fifth wicket after the loss of two wickets in the day’s opening half-hour reduced them to 34-4.

However, Chandimal was stumped for 34 off Michael Bracewell after charging down the track soon after tea, sparking the slump.

Offspinner Bracewell then removed Dhananjaya de Silva in his next over and later dismissed Karunaratne when he hit out, to finish with 3-50.

‘Nice Surprise’

Playing his eighth Test, Bracewell was surprised at the drift and turn he could generate on a third-day track, with New Zealand pitches renowned for offering little assistance for slower bowlers.

“To take three wickets in the first innings is a nice surprise and to have it happen on day three is pretty exciting for a spinner,” he said.

“But we’ve still got a big job. The two guys at the crease are obviously very experienced and have scored a lot of Test runs.”

Victory would complete a memorable week for allrounder Bracewell, who signed up to a maiden Indian Premier League contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore as a replacement for injured Englishman Will Jacks.

“It’s one of those things that’s a little bit strange happening in the middle of a game,” he said.

“So I haven’t afforded myself too much time to get too excited because obviously there’s a big game in front of me but I’m excited for getting over there.”

Bracewell said he supported the decision by Black Caps captain Southee to enforce the follow-on, with the home side’s bowling attack still fresh when Sri Lanka padded up for a second time.

New Zealand are chasing their third Test victory in a row, following their dramatic two-wicket defeat of Sri Lanka in the first Test at Christchurch, which was sealed on the final ball.

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