New Zealand made two sensational comebacks against Sri Lanka in the same match, snatching an eight-run victory in the first T20I at Mount Maunganui.
Jacob Duffy, the 30-year-old seamer, took 3-21 as Sri Lanka slipped from 121-0 to 159-8, eventually losing the match by eight runs. Chasing 173, no one in the Sri Lanka lineup from No.3 through No.10 managed to cross single digits, with Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis falling for ducks to Duffy in a three-wicket over.
It was tale of two halves in Sri Lanka's chase: openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis first put on a 121-run stand in 13.2 overs, the second-highest opening stand ever for the country. It included a 56-run powerplay, reaching 100 in the 12th over.
Match 1st T20I, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka
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However, Mendis' dismissal sparked a sensational collapse, as Sri Lanka lost eight wickets in 40 balls to derail their chase. Nissanka scored 90 off 60, and was the fifth wicket to fall.
It was the second time New Zealand were making a comeback in the game: earlier, they were reduced to 65-5, before Daryl Mitchell rescued them with a 42-ball 62 from No.5. Joining forces was Michael Bracewell from No.7, his 33-ball 59 giving the late thrust that took NZ past 170. The 105-run stand gave New Zealand's bowlers enough and more to fight, with the target eventually being too far for them.
After the game, Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka admitted that none of the batters after the opening stand took any sort of responsibility.
"Very disappointed about the result, we really should have done better," he said. "The openers batted really well, apart from that, including me, rest of us had to take the responsibility. That’s the beauty of this game, things can change quickly, we hope to come back well".
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