What is it about New Zealand and Super Overs?
Ish Sodhi was the hero for the Black Caps at Eden Park on Sunday, slapping the final delivery of New Zealand’s run chase over mid-wicket for six to force a one-over decider against Sri Lanka.
But the hosts couldn’t get the job done, with Sri Lanka taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series courtesy of Charith Asalanka’s two-ball cameo in the Super Over. It was Sri Lanka’s first victory on New Zealand soil in any format since 2015.
Watch Sri Lanka‘s Tour of New Zealand. Every ODI & T20 live & ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
“It was very exciting. Two teams playing very nicely, but today was our day,” Asalanka said after the win.
“It‘s a little ground, the boundaries are small and I tried to hit boundaries.
“We know as a team that in T20 games we can hit plenty of boundaries with the right mindset.”
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first in Auckland, with Sri Lanka registering 5-196 from their 20 overs. Player of the Match Asalanka top-scored for the visitors with an explosive 67 (41), which included six sixes, while Kusal Perera anchored the innings with an unbeaten 53 (45).
Black Caps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham was the pick of the bowlers with two crucial scalps.
In response, New Zealand was seemingly on track to chase the 197-run target when Daryl Mitchell and Mark Chapman combined for a 66-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but a flurry of late wickets set up a thrilling finish.
The Kiwis needed 13 runs from the final over for victory, but captain Dasun Shanaka swung momentum back in Sri Lanka’s favour by dismissing Rachin Ravindra for 26 (13).
With seven runs needed from the final delivery, Sodhi nonchalantly clipped a full delivery on leg stump over the boundary rope, sending the Auckland crowd into a frenzy.
Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, the world’s No. 2 T20I bowler, finished with 2-30 from four overs.
New Zealand could only muster eight runs in their Super Over, with Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana snaring two wickets and conceding one boundary.
In response, Asalanka slogged a six over deep wicket before guiding a bouncer over the wicketkeeper’s head for a boundary, reaching the target in two legitimate deliveries. It was the shortest successful Super Over chase in men’s T20I history, with Kiwi seamer Adam Milne the luckless bowler.
“Another great game of cricket at Eden Park,” New Zealand captain Tom Latham said after the defeat.
“It was great for Ish to hit that six off the last ball. But it wasn‘t meant to be today. We didn’t have that killer partnership to seal the game, but we got to the Super Over.
“If you look at where they scored, it was straight. We were probably just a fraction full, and we have to work on that and hit just back of a length, going into Dunedin where it‘s a slightly smaller ground as well. We’ll take the leanings from today.”
The second T20I between New Zealand and Sri Lanka gets underway at Dunedin’s University Oval on Wednesday, with the first ball scheduled for 11am AEST.