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.
READ: Pakistan-born Ali boosts USA chances for World Cup 2023 qualification
