In a pivotal match, Sri Lanka and New Zealand squared off at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. In order to maintain control of the fourth position on the points standings, New Zealand needed to win. By contrast, Sri Lanka needed to win in order to be eligible for the Champions Trophy in 2025. After winning the toss, New Zealand chose to bowl first. Each team named one change to their respective sides. Lockie Ferguson replaced Ish Sodhi in the Blackcaps’ starting lineup, while Chamika Karunaratne took Kasun Rajitha’s spot in the Sri Lankan squad. Sri Lanka scored 171 runs in the first innings. Here is a summary of what happened in the first innings.
Sri Lanka lost 5 wickets in powerplay
Trent Boult got things going with a brilliant opening over, bowling a one-run over. Tim Southee, at the other end, got Kusal Perera to hit an outside edge, but wicketkeeper Tom Latham made the correct catch. Pathum Nissanka was out for the very next ball as Latham made no mistakes this time. The Kiwi pacers were then the target of Perera’s rage. In the third over, Perera and Kusal Mendis each hit a four as Boult gave up 12 runs. The next over saw Perera smash two fours and a six as Southee gave up fifteen runs.
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In the fifth over of the World Cup, Boult removed the captain of Sri Lanka for his 50th wicket. In ODI World Cups, the left-arm pacer became just the sixth bowler to reach 50 wickets. He removed Sadeera Samarawickrama in the same over. Southee was still costly as Perera blasted three fours and a six in the sixth over. Perera also smacked Boult for two straight fours. In the eighth over, the opener for Sri Lanka reached his half-century in just 22 balls thanks to a four off Lockie Ferguson’s bowling. Boult removed Charith Asalanka, the centurion from the previous game. Ferguson ended the powerplay in the last over by dismissing Perera, who was fifty-five.
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New Zealand continue to take quick wickets
In the thirteenth over, Mitchell Santner entered the attack in place of Boult. With measured lengths and lines, Santner gave up just five runs in his opening two overs of the stint. Taking out Angelo Mathews, the left-arm spinner secured his first wicket of the game. Mathews hit two fours and scored 16 runs in 27 innings. Santner removed Dhananjaya de Silva in his next over. De Silva hit two fours and one six in his 19 runs in 24 balls. In his second over of the stint, Ferguson, who returned to the attack in the 22nd over, claimed another wicket. Chamika Karunaratne was dismissed by the Kiwi speedster. New Zealand managed just 113 runs after they lost eight wickets.
Maheesh Theekshana eventually showed some intent in the innings by hitting Santner for two consecutive fours in the 27th over, following three calm overs that ended with just two runs. Santner recovered magnificently, bowling a maiden over in the next over. In the 30th over, Boult returned to the attack and bowled a maiden over. Santner concluded his financial whirlwind with 10-2-22-2. Boult bowled a maiden over as Sri Lanka’s runs dried up once more. In the 33rd over, Rachin Ravindra returned to the attack, taking Santner’s spot. His effect was immediate as he brought an end to the irksome ninth-wicket stand that went on for over fifty balls. Boult also concluded his enchantment with the numbers 10-3-37-3.
Theekshana and Dilshan Madushanka held the fort for a long time and scored some crucial runs. The duo shared a 43-run stand before Ravindra dismissed Madushanka in the 47th over. The partnership lasted for 87 balls.
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