Courtesy: Sony Liv/X
New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy took three wickets in just four balls, decimating the Sri Lankan top order, to help the hosts earn a famous win by eight runs in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. In pursuit of the 173-run target, Sri Lanka were cruising at one stage with their score reading 121/0 in the 14th over before Jacob Duffy inspired New Zealand’s comeback victory from nowhere.
On the third ball of the 14th over, Jacob Duffy picked up the crucial wicket of Kusal Mendis (46 off 36), to break a massive 121-run stand for the first wicket between the dismissed batter and his opening partner Pathum Nissanka. Just a couple of balls later, the right-arm fast bowler got the better of Kusal Perera, who didn’t trouble the scorers, following which he found himself on a hat-trick with the wicket of in-form Kamindu Mendis for a golden duck.
Watch the video of Jacob Duffy's three wickets here:
Zakary Foulkes defended 13 runs in last over during first T20I between NZ and SL
While Jacob Duffy wasn’t able to take a hat-trick in his next over as Pathum Nissanka was up to the task, the dismissal of the Sri Lankan opener for 90 off 60 after hitting seven fours and three sixes, set up the victory for New Zealand in the first T20I. Matt Henry got two wickets of Pathum Nissanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa in three balls in the penultimate over of the Sri Lankan innings, giving 13 runs in the final over to young Zakary Foulkes to defend.
After taking the vital wicket of Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka in his previous over, the right-arm pacer sent Maheesh Theekshana back into the pavilion on the first ball of the last over before running out Wanindu Hasaranga at the non-striker’s end. Zakary Foulkes conceded just five runs in the last four balls of the Sri Lanka, to ensure that New Zealand got over the finishing line, to secure a win by eight runs.
