New Zealand v Sri Lanka 2022/23

Watch: ‘You ripper!’ – No.10 Ish Sodhi launches last-ball six into stands to set up Super Over in incredible T20I finish

by Wisden Staff April 2, 2023 - 11:18am 3 minute read

Watch: With seven needed to win off the last ball the first T20I, at Eden Park, Ish Sodhi lofted Dasun Shanaka for six to tie the match and take it to the Super Over.

Adam Milne had Pathum Nissanka struck first ball after Tom Latham won the toss and opted to bowl in Auckland. However, Kusal Mendis blazed away to a nine-ball 25, while Charith Asalanka slammed a 41-ball 67.

Kusal Perera (53 not out in 45 balls) and Wanindu Hasaranga (21 not out in 11) then took Sri Lanka to 196-5 as Jimmy Neesham finished with 2-30.

New Zealand became 3-2 in response before Daryl Mitchell (66 in 44) led the counterattack. As Latham (27 in 16), Neesham (19 in 10), and Rachin Ravindra (26 in 13) all contributions, Pramod Madushan (2-37), Hasaranga (2-30), and Shanaka (2-20) kept chipping away at the wickets.

Coming to defend 13 in the last over, Shanaka had Ravindra caught at long off with his first ball. Sodhi drove the next two balls down the ground to pick up two twos, and New Zealand needed nine runs in three balls.

Sodhi then ran a bye, bringing Henry Shipley, yet to face a ball, on strike. Shanaka bowled a slower ball, and all Shipley could manage was a single.

That brought Sodhi back on strike. He shuffled across the stumps, and when Shanaka pitched up, he clobbered it into the stands over mid-wicket to take the match to the Super Over.

Unfortunately, it all went in vain. Maheesh Theekshana bowled a brilliant over, conceding eight runs and taking out both Neesham and Mark Chapman. Asalanka then hit Milne for a six and a four to finish the chase in two legal balls.