If we’re relying on freshness as the lone factor to decide who’ll win tonight, this is New Zealand’s match to lose.
After thrashing Australia at the SCG, the Kiwis took a short flight to Melbourne to share the points in a rain-shortened encounter without a ball being bowled.
Then there’s Sri Lanka. Now down three fast bowlers – three! – in Binura Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka and spearhead Dushmantha Chameera, Sri Lanka will no doubt have highlights of the 1996 World Cup running on a loop as they attempt to conjure some magic from an indifferent start to the T20 World Cup.
MORE: Who’s leading every statistical category at the T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup full results and schedule
Stick with Sporting News as we deliver ball-by-ball coverage of match 27, live from the SCG.
| Team | 1st Innings |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | 3/54 |
| Sri Lanka |
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka T20 World Cup live updates, highlights from the SCG: As it happened
10th over: Phillips hands are warming up, he’s really throwing them through the ball at the moment. He glides a ball to deep point and then a blistering six. He got a ball short off a length and just turned on it, lofting it off his pads. That’s 50 for New Zealand. Eight runs off the over and it’s drinks. 3/54
9th over: Just the three runs. 3/45
8th over: It feels like Sri Lanka is just losing their way a bit here. Lahiru Kumara is into the attack and immediately concedes a four. Too short to Phillips, who gloves the ball to the boundary. Yeesh, then he oversteps for a free hit to New Zealand. 12 runs from the over with the strike rotating. 3/42
7th over: De Silva continues and it looks like Phillips and Mitchell will continue to rotate the strike as they get their bearings. CHANCE! Oh no, Nissanka has dropped a lofted drive straight at him from Phillips. It was too low to get caught in the lights: he’s just doffed it. Costly? Surely. 3/30
6th over: Mitchell and Phillips need to turn it on here. Phillips responds with a bullet behind point, taking advantage of such a hint of width. One more run and that’s six from the over. 3/25
5th over: Theekshana is tidy and the chatter level is turning up. Sri Lanka on top. 3/19
4th over: Rajitha resumes. It’s been a diabolical start for New Zealand but Williamson looks electric, picking the length early and throwing his hips, bat and enough power to frighten a small army through the ball. What a shot for four. 3/15
Oh. WICKET! Williamson is caught driving. a length ball nicks away from the seam and he has to go. SCENES. Capital letters intended.
3rd over: WICKET! Dhananjaya enters the fray and disposes of Conway with just his second ball. It looks like Conway tried to loft him over extra cover and just…missed. Phillips is in and punches the second ball to him through the covers. 2/11
2nd over: Kasun Rajitha takes the ball and, much like Theekshana, looks to use the big boundary to his advantage. a tight first over, limiting New Zealand to three runs. 1/6
1st over: Theekshana leads us off, trying the use big boundary to his advantage. WICKET! A slight inswinger with the fourth ball of the over and it was too much for Allen. he gave himself too much space and New Zealand are a wicket down. Williamson is in and immediately off the mark. 1/3
30 minutes until first ball: One change for both teams: Daryl Mitchell replaces Mark Chapman, while Kasun Rajitha comes in place of the injured Binura Fernando.
45 minutes until first ball: New Zealand have won the toss and will bat first.
One hour until first ball: Good evening and, dare we even say it, an enthusiastic tip of the cap to the weather gods: it looks like we’ll have cricket tonight. Stick around as we get the confirmed sides, ponder what lies ahead in the coming fortnight and prepare for what’s going to be a cracking game of cricket.
A stat to get you started (via Cricinfo): New Zealand have won 10 and lost seven T20Is against Sri Lanka. In T20 World Cups, however, the tally is 4-1 in Sri Lanka’s favour, though they haven’t met at this tournament since 2014.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka T20 full scorecard
New Zealand innings
| Batter | Status | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devon Conway | b. DM de Silva | 1 | 3 | ||
| Finn Allen | b. Theekshana | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Kane Williamson (c) | c. +Mendis b. Rajitha | 8 | 13 | 1 | |
| Glenn Phillips | 30 | 27 | 3 | 1 | |
| Daryl Mitchell | 11 | 14 | |||
| James Neesham | |||||
| Mitchell Santner | |||||
| Ish Sodhi | |||||
| Tim Southee | |||||
| Lockie Ferguson | |||||
| Trent Boult | |||||
| Total | |||||
| Extras | |||||
| FOW |
Sri Lanka bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maheesh Theekshana | 2 | 7 | 1 | |
| Kasun Rajitha | 3 | 12 | 1 | |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 1 | 5 | 1 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva | 2 | 8 | ||
| Lahiru Kumara | 1 | 12 | ||
| Chamika Karunaratne | 1 | 9 |
Sri Lanka batting
| Batter | Status | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | |||||
| Kusal Mendis | |||||
| Dhananjaya de Silva | |||||
| Charith Asalanka | |||||
| Bhanuka Rajapaksa | |||||
| Dasun Shanaka (c) | |||||
| Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva | |||||
| Chamika Karunaratne | |||||
| Maheesh Theekshana | |||||
| Lahiru Kumara | |||||
| Kasun Rajitha | |||||
| Total | |||||
| Extras | |||||
| F.O.W |
New Zealand bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
