New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by 8 runs in the first T20, the bowlers changed the course of the match.

New Zealand registered a spectacular victory by defeating Sri Lanka by 8 runs in the first match of the three-match T20 International series played on Saturday. At one time in the match, Sri Lanka was standing on the threshold of victory, but New Zealand's bowlers performed brilliantly in the last overs and gave the team victory.

New Zealand's innings: half-centuries from Mitchell and Bracewell

New Zealand, batting first, scored 172 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs. Half-century innings of Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell played an important role in reaching this score.

• Daryl Mitchell: 62 runs
• Michael Bracewell: 59 runs

These two batsmen made a partnership of 105 runs for the sixth wicket. Their partnership came when the team was struggling at only 65 runs for five wickets. Earlier, Sri Lankan bowler Wanindu Hasaranga had pushed the Kiwi team on the backfoot by dismissing Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Hay on consecutive balls in the 10th over.

Sri Lanka's innings: Strong start from Nissanka and Mendis

Sri Lanka, while chasing the target of 172 runs, got off to a good start. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis made a partnership of 121 runs for the first wicket.

• Pathum Nissanka: 90 runs in 60 balls
• Kusal Mendis: 46 runs

After their partnership, it seemed that Sri Lanka would easily win the match. Sri Lanka's score in the 14th over was 121 runs without any loss and only 51 more runs were needed to reach the target.

New Zealand's comeback: explosive performance by bowlers

The course of the match started changing from the 14th over. Jacob Duffy took 3 big wickets giving only 1 run in this over. He weakened Sri Lanka's strong hold by dismissing Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Perera.

Pathum Nissanka was also out in the 19th over, when Sri Lanka's score was 153 for 5. Now the team needed 20 runs to win, but New Zealand's bowlers did not give them a chance to do so.

thrill of the last overs

In the last overs of the match, New Zealand bowlers Matt Henry and Jacques Fox prevented Sri Lanka from scoring runs with their accurate bowling. He turned the match in New Zealand's favor by taking 2-2 wickets in the last overs.

outcome

Sri Lankan team could score only 164 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs and New Zealand won the match by 8 runs.

Highlights:

1. New Zealand scored 172 runs for 8 wickets.
2. Daryl Mitchell (62) and Michael Bracewell (59) made a partnership of 105 runs for the sixth wicket.
3. Sri Lanka's score in the 14th over was 121 runs without losing any wicket.
4. Jacob Duffy took 3 wickets in a single over.
5. Matt Henry and Jacques Fox bowled brilliantly in the last overs.