New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips took three wickets in the final over to help his side defend 108 against Sri Lanka in the second T20I in Dambulla on Sunday.
Sri Lanka, coming off a win in the first T20I at the same venue last night, won the toss and chose to field first. They were rewarded instantly, as Nuwan Thushara knocked back Tim Robinson’s off stump with a searing yorker off the very first ball.
They were 33-2 by the end of the Powerplay before Wanindu Hasaranga ripped through them in the middle overs, reducing the Kiwis to 52-6 in 10.3 overs. Mitchell Santner and Josh Clarkson then put on 32 for the seventh wicket before Matheesha Pathirana took 3-11 at the death to bowl them out for 108.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Mendis early, before Lockie Ferguson became the fifth New Zealand bowler to take a T20I hat-trick. He dismissed Kusal Perera with the final ball of the sixth over, and Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka off the first two deliveries of the eighth over. Sri Lanka then slid to 82-7, but opener Pathum Nissanka was still in the middle.
The hosts needed eight runs off the last over to win, as off-spinner Glenn Phillips came in to bowl. After a single off the first ball, Nissanka holed out at long on, trying to finish the match. Pathirana was stumped off the very next ball.
The equation then came down to six runs off two balls. Maheesh Theeskhana went for a heave into the leg side only to get a top edge which was safely pouched by keeper Mitchell Hay to secure a five-run win.