| ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Group 1, Sydney |
| New Zealand 167-7 (20 overs): Phillips 104 (64); Rajitha 2-23 |
| Sri Lanka 102 all out (19.2 overs): Shanaka 35 (32); Boult 4-13 |
| New Zealand gained by 65 runs |
| Scorecard. Tables |
Glenn Phillips smashed a elegant 104 from 64 balls to guide New Zealand to a crushing 65-run victory over Sri Lanka within the Men’s T20 World Cup in Sydney.
The Black Caps had been struggling at 15-3 earlier than Phillips’ gorgeous counter-attack helped them submit 167-7.
Phillips was dropped on 12 and 45 as Sri Lanka had been made to rue a sloppy efficiency within the discipline.
Kiwi quick bowler Trent Boult then took 4-13 as Sri Lanka slumped to 102 all out within the remaining over.
The win retains unbeaten New Zealand comfortably prime of the Group 1 desk, with Sri Lanka in fifth.
Having gained the toss and chosen to bat, New Zealand had been rapidly in hassle as they misplaced each openers and their captain Kane Williamson inside the first 4 overs.
But a fourth-wicket partnership of 84 between Phillips and Daryl Mitchell, who made 22, rebuilt the innings.
Phillips attacked from the outset regardless of the early wickets, reaching his half-century from 39 balls earlier than capitalising on the loss of life as New Zealand scored 54 from the final 4 overs.
Phillips’ century is the second of the World Cup thus far after Rilee Rossouw’s 109 against Bangladesh on Thursday.
Both groups play their subsequent fixtures on Tuesday, with New Zealand taking over England and Sri Lanka dealing with Afghanistan.
New Zealand will qualify for the semi-finals by beating England, whereas Sri Lanka have solely a slim probability now, needing to win each remaining video games and hope different outcomes go their method.
Ruthless New Zealand punish sloppy Sri Lanka
Opening powerplay apart, it was a implausible efficiency from the Black Caps, who’re establishing themselves as potential favourites for the title after demolishing final yr’s champions Australia of their first outing.
It began with Phillips’ brutality and was wrapped up by the brilliance of Boult and Tim Southee.
Phillips, an unorthodox batter who scores throughout the bottom, was aggressive however sensible – clearing the boundary with ease but in addition operating nicely between the wickets when Sri Lanka’s fielding requirements dropped.
Sri Lanka squandered their spectacular begin, steadily fumbling the ball and giving runs away as nicely as the 2 dropped probabilities of Phillips.
The indisputable fact that Mitchell’s 22 was the second-highest rating of the innings confirmed simply how dominant Phillips was, with Williamson, Finn Allen, Devon Conway and Jimmy Neesham contributing simply 15 runs mixed.
Boult and Southee then produced a formidable and relentless opening burst.
Southee took 1-12 and struck within the first over, eradicating Pathum Nissanka for a duck to cap a tough day for the opener, who dropped a easy probability to take away Phillips on 12.
Boult then took two in his first over and the competition was basically over.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa and captain Dasun Shanaka had been the one batters to supply any resistance, scoring 34 and 35 respectively.
There had been two wickets apiece for spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner and with Lockie Ferguson’s tempo to finish the assault, New Zealand look fiercely decided to achieve their second successive World Cup remaining.
Even if New Zealand lose to England, a win over Ireland of their remaining sport needs to be sufficient to see them by means of due to their excellent internet run-rate.
