NEWS
Follow UsIt was all going well for Sri Lanka in the first T20 International (T20I) against New Zealand at The Bay Oval before Jacob Duffy ruined it. The speedster picked up three wickets in a span of four deliveries to bring the Blackcaps back into the game and guide them to an eight-run victory.
However, Sri Lanka had the game in their hands until the 13th over, in pursuit of 173, when openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis added 120 till then. That's when Duffy came in and wreaked havoc, picking up three wickets in the over and giving away just one run.
With this loss, Sri Lanka have registered an unwanted record. Their 121-run stand is the third-highest opening partnership to end up in a losing cause in a T20I chase.
Only Bulgaria's duo of Hristo Lakov and Aravinda de Silva (123), and Ireland's Paul Stirling and Kevin O'Brien (126) have put on more for the first wicket during a chase with their team ending second best.
Highest opening partnerships in a T20I chase to end up in a losing cause:
Paul Stirling, Kevin O'Brien 126 vs Afghanistan, 2019
Hristo Lakov, Aravinda de Silva 123 vs Czech Republic, 2022
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis 121 vs New Zealand, 2024
Aaron Finch, David Warner 98 vs England, 2010
Loots Bosman, Graeme Smith 97 vs England, 2009
Reflecting on the loss, a disappointed Sri Lanka captain, Charith Aslanka, said that the other players should have taken more responsibility.
"Very disappointed about the result, we really should have done better. The openers batted really well, apart from that, including me, rest of us had to take the responsibility," he said.
"That’s the beauty of this game, things can change quickly, we hope to come back well. I thought we could’ve done bit better with the bowling and fielding, thought it was a decent pitch and when the openers were batting it will be real easy. Want to comeback and do really well in the next game."
The two teams will clash at the same venue for the second T20I on December 30 (Monday).
