NZ vs SL: Tim Seifert helps New Zealand level T20I series with 9-wicket win after Adam Milne demolishes Lankan batters with fifer

New Zealand thrashed Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the second T20I to level their three-match series 1-1 at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday, April 5.

SportsTak

• Wed • 05 Apr 2023

New Zealand thrashed Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the second T20I to level their three-match series 1-1 at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday, April 5. Adam Milne and Tim Seifert were the respective heroes on the night, with the former bagging a fifer and the latter carrying the bat for the Kiwis in what was a comfortable victory.

Sri Lanka were put in to bat first by the home side and were cruising at 91 for two in 11.1 overs. Kusal Perera (35) and Dhananjaya de Silva (37) restored their ship after Pathum Nissanka (9) and Kusal Mendis (10) threw away their wickets, with the duo stitching together a partnership of 62 for the third wicket.

But Milne got the wicket of Perera, his second after Nissanka, as a Sri Lankan batting collapse ensued. In the very next over, de Silva was caught by Ben Lister off Rachin Ravindra's bowling after scoring 37 runs. Charith Asalanka tried to hold the innings together and played until the penultimate over, scoring 24 off 19 before Milne struck again. He completed his five-wicket haul with the wicket of Dilshan Madushanka to dismiss the Asia Cup champions for 141 in 19 overs.

With the bat, the Kiwis saw openers Chad Bowes and Seifert share a 40-run partnership for the opening wicket. Kasun Rajitha provided the first breakthrough with the wicket of Bowes, who smashed seven fours on the way to his 30 off 15.

Seifert and skipper Tom Latham went on an unbeaten 106-run stand. Seifert reached his half-century off 30 balls and remained unbeaten on 79 off 43 with three fours and six sixes. Latham stayed unbeaten on 20 off 30 balls.

It was a much-needed victory for the Kiwis, who bounced back from their close loss in the first match of the series. The Islanders held their nerve to clinch a thrilling win against the Black Caps in Super Over at Eden Park in Auckland.