QUEENSTOWN, Apr 8:
New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by four wickets with one ball remaining in the third Twenty20 international today to win the series by 2-1 after opener Tim Seifert led its run-chase for the second match in a row.
Seifert made 88 from 48 balls and New Zealand passed Sri Lanka’s 182-6 in the last over. He made 79 from 43 balls when New Zealand won the second match by nine wickets after Sri Lanka won the first in a Super Over.
Kusal Mendis also paced Sri Lanka’s innings from the top of the order, making 73 from 48 balls. He had support throughout the innings from Pathum Nissanka (24) with whom he put on 76 in 9.3 overs for the first wicket, Kusal Perera (33), whose run out in the 17th over might have cost Sri Lanka a bigger total, and Dhananjaya de Silva (20).
Queenstown’s Sir John Davies Oval became the world’s newest Twenty20 international venue and provided not just a picturesque backdrop but a superb and competitive pitch which was unused and provided pace and bounce.
Both Mendis and Seifert were able to turn that to advantage after weathering the risky early moments of both innings when full deliveries swung and short balls pinged through. Mendis hit six fours and five sixes, Seifert 10 fours and three sixes.
Seifert put on 53 for New Zealand’s first wicket with Chad Bowes and 84 from 52 balls for the second with captain Tom Latham who made 31. (AP)
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