In a thrilling first Twenty20 match, Sri Lanka's spinners dominated New Zealand's batters on a turning pitch to secure a four-wicket win. Despite a strong effort from New Zealand's lower order batters, Sri Lanka's captain Charith Asalanka's unbeaten knock of 35 led his team to victory with an over to spare. The two teams will face off again at the same venue on Sunday, with both teams using these T20 matches as preparation for next year's Champions Trophy.
The 1st T20I between Sri Lanka and New Zealand will take place at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla on Saturday. After an impressive tour of India, the Kiwis are looking to bounce back from their disappointing campaign in the recent T20 World Cup. However, Sri Lanka has positive momentum on their side with recent wins against India and New Zealand in ODIs and Tests. The hopes are high for Charith Asalanka and his team to continue their successful streak in the shortest format.
With the ongoing hype surrounding their win against India in the Test series, New Zealand shifts their focus to face Sri Lanka in the upcoming white-ball matches. The blackcaps are prepared to take on Sri Lanka in a two-match T20I series, followed by a three-match ODI series. The ODIs and T20Is will be led by Charith Asalanka while all eyes are set on the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium where the first three and final two games, respectively, are to be held during this tour of New Zealand. Get ready for some exciting white-ball cricket action as New Zealand embarks on their tour of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal proved to be the star of the day with his 116-run knock in the first innings of the second Test against New Zealand. Chandimal's contributions, along with partnerships with teammates Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews, helped Sri Lanka end the day on a commanding 306 for three against the visitors. The highlight of the day was Chandimal's 16th Test century, positioning Sri Lanka for a potentially big first innings total.
Sri Lankan middle-order batsman Kamindu Mendis has made history by becoming the joint-fastest player to score 1000 runs in just eight Test matches. His remarkable feat of achieving this milestone in just 13 innings, equaling the likes of Don Bradman, has put him in an elite club. Sri Lanka's dominant batting display against New Zealand in Galle, where they declared at 602/5, was led by Kamindu's partnership with Kusal Mendis, adding to their impressive tally of three century-plus partnerships in the innings. With the Kiwi openers already dismissed, all eyes will be on Kamindu as he resumes the game on day three.
In the ongoing Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test series, Sri Lanka has the chance to secure their first series win against the Kiwis in 15 years as they take on New Zealand in the second Test. With a 63-run win in the first Test, Sri Lanka will be looking to continue their successful run with debutant Nishan Peiris replacing Ramesh Mendis in the playing XI. Meanwhile, a victory for New Zealand would not only secure them a series draw but also allow them to reclaim third spot in the WTC rankings.
Sri Lanka clinched a 63-run victory over New Zealand in the first Test at Galle thanks to Prabath Jayasuriya's five-wicket haul. Set a target of 275 runs, the Black Caps struggled against the spinning conditions, with Rachin Ravindra's 92 being the only highlight for the visitors. Jayasuriya, who was named man-of-the-match, credited his success to sticking to the basics and bowling with consistency on the helpful pitch in Galle.