Recalled Doug Bracewell and debutant Scott Kuggeleijn yesterday starred with bat and ball for New Zealand to beat Sri Lanka by 35 runs in the one-off Twenty20 International in Auckland.
It ended a dismal tour for Sri Lanka, with a drawn first Test followed by a succession of losses in the second Test, three one-day internationals (ODIs) and the Twenty20.
New Zealand, sent in to bat, recovered from 55-5 to finish on 179-7 with Bracewell (44) and Kuggeleijn (35 not out) the key contributors.
The target was not daunting and Sri Lanka easily kept up with the required run rate to be 118-4 after 12 overs.
However, their final six wickets fell for the addition of only 26 more runs and the innings folded for 144 with 19 balls remaining. Kuggeleijn and Bracewell both took wickets in their opening overs.
Kusal Perera, who raced to 22 off 12 deliveries, was removed by Kuggeleijn’s third delivery, while Niroshan Dickwella, who smacked a four and a six from the first two balls of the innings, went for 18 with the first ball from Bracewell.
Kuggeleijn and Bracewell also took the catches to dismiss Kusal Mendis (17) and Thisara Perera (43).
The first game all tour for Sadeera Samarawickrama was a short-lived affair, as he was bowled first ball by Lockie Ferguson.
Ferguson finished with 3-21, while Ish Sodhi took 3-30.
Sri Lanka did with the toss and put New Zealand in to bat with impressive early results.
With a more disciplined bowling attack than was seen in the ODIs and with astute field placements, Sri Lanka ripped through the New Zealand top order to have them 4-27 midway through the fourth over.
Ross Taylor, who tormented Sri Lanka in the ODIs, had to play a more circumspect role.
His first 11 runs were all singles from 22 deliveries before he first found the boundary on his way to 33 off 37.
However, Taylor’s patience had set the stage for Bracewell and Kuggeleijn to hit out and give the total some respectability.
Bracewell clubbed 44 off 26 balls, including five sixes and a four, while Kuggeleijn only faced 15 deliveries to be not out 35 with four sixes and a four.
New Zealand now prepare to host India in a series of ODIs while Sri Lanka head to Australia.
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