New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Highlights, 3rd T20I: Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 7 runs

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Well then, the Kiwis have a huge challenging task cut out for them with 219 to chase. It is not going to be an easy one for the hosts. Anything that had pace was smashed out of the park and the Lankans do have a bowling attack which is known for its pace variations as well. It is going to be a delicious run chase on the other side. Stay tuned.

The Kiwis remained under constant pressure as Kusal Perera's swashbuckling batting display powered him to his maiden T20I century. The hosts found no respite while Perera was at the crease. However, once two new batters came in, New Zealand managed to regain some control, restricting Sri Lanka to just 12 runs in the final two overs through some good death bowling by Duffy and Mitchell.

But it was in the mid-overs when Sri Lanka consolidated the start they got. The batters quickly cashed on anything that was served outside off with pace and also survived a couple of dropped catches to add to their misery. Kusal Perera reached his half-century during this period, where most overs yielded runs in excess and around 9 rpo. The acceleration was particularly evident between overs 10 and 16, as they amassed 84 runs in this crucial phase without losing a single wicket. Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka constructed a centurion partnership on the back of some brilliant strokes played by the two southpaws.

In the early overs, the new ball offered considerable assistance to the pace bowlers through movement off the seam and swing. Santner made an immediate impact upon introducing himself into the attack, striking in his first over. He tried to stem the run flow by constant shuffling in the bowling. However, Kusal Perera showed positive intent from the outset, scoring freely. With the ball softening, Perera and Avishka began taking calculated risks against the spinners. Although the spin duo created several half-chances, the third-wicket stand continued to grow, only before Duffy was reintroduced and removed the latter. 

A clinical batting performance by Sri Lanka, despite those last two quiet overs in the backend. But, with 218 on the board, the Lankans would be quite delighted as the batters have done their job sincerely. Despite conditions delaying the start due to a wet outfield, play eventually commenced beneath cloudy skies. The batting surface proved a bit challenging initially, with the New Zealand bowlers exploiting the conditions well in the first few overs. While Sri Lanka's opening pair of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis managed to build a good foundation, their attempts to accelerate the scoring rate led to both wickets falling in quick succession.

Jacob Duffy to Chamindu Wickramasinghe, FOUR! On a length wide outside off, Chamindu Wickramasinghe shimmies down the track and swings wild. The ball was darted outside off and Chamindu Wickramasinghe could only manage an outside edge to it. Luckily for Chamindu Wickramasinghe, the ball flies past the right of short third and into the fence for four. Sri Lanka post a huge total of 218 on board. 

Jacob Duffy to Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Another dot as Chamindu Wickramasinghe persists to play the scoop but misses again. 

Jacob Duffy to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Excellent over from Jacob Duffy so far. Full and wide outside off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa lofts this towards sweeper cover for just a single. 

Jacob Duffy to Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Too full, wide outside off, Chamindu Wickramasinghe pushes this towards Mitchell Santner at cover and runs a single. 

Jacob Duffy to Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Another swing and a miss. On a length outside off, was there to be smashed. Chamindu Wickramasinghe swings but misses. 

Jacob Duffy to Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Full and wide outside off, Chamindu Wickramasinghe moves across and looks for the scoop but misses. 

Jacob Duffy (3-0-24-1) to wrap the first innings with the ball.

This has been a good over from Daryl Mitchell! Just a couple of runs so far and a wicket. Can he finish off going unscathed?

Daryl Mitchell to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, FOUR! A boundary to end the 19th. Full and wide outside off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa jumps down the track and swings. Gets it off the outside, lands behind backward point and the ball races away to the fence for four. 

Daryl Mitchell to Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Short and wide outside off, Chamindu Wickramasinghe slaps this to deep cover for one. 

Chamindu Wickramasinghe walks in at number 7.

Daryl Mitchell to Kusal Perera, OUT! IN THE AIR AND CAUGHT! The centurion, Kusal Perera departs. This is a slower one, on a short length, and wide outside off, Kusal Perera looks to hit this over point. But gets no timing on that. The ball slices off his bat and hangs high over Rachin Ravindra at point. Rachin walks sideways and holds onto this one. Perera perishes after racking up 101 at a strike rate of nearly 220.

Daryl Mitchell to Kusal Perera, Good length on off, Kusal Perera thumps this into the surface and back to the bowler for no run. 

Daryl Mitchell to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, On a length around off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa guides this towards backward point for a quick single. 

Daryl Mitchell to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Good length on off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa drives this to cover for no run. 

Matt Henry to Kusal Perera, SIX! CENTURY FOR Kusal Perera. A biggie over cover to bring up his ton. Pitched-up on off, Kusal Perera opens up the off side and lofts this up and over cover for six. This is how good Kusal Perera has been today. The ball has just flown off his bat. That drop early on has costed the Kiwis big time. 

Matt Henry to Kusal Perera, SIX! The ball is flying off KP's bat and it is landing into the stands mostly. Short-pitched around middle and leg, Kusal Perera pulls this and gets enough power behind this to take it over the fence for six more. KP moves to 95.

Matt Henry to Kusal Perera, On a length around off, Kusal Perera smashes this towards long on for a couple. 

Matt Henry to Kusal Perera, SIX! AWAY SHE GOES FOR SIX! Good length on middle and leg, Kusal Perera clears his front leg, opens up the off side but the ball was bowled closer to the pads and he flicks this right off the middle of his bat and into the stands towards deep mid-wicket for six. 

Matt Henry to Kusal Perera, On a length angling away on off, Kusal Perera clears the front leg and swings but misses. 

Matt Henry to Kusal Perera, WIDE! Good length, way too wide outside off, Kusal Perera misses on the bat swing. Wided. 

Matt Henry to Kusal Perera, Full and wide outside off, Kusal Perera rocks back and looks to drive away on off. Gets an inside edge towards fine leg for a couple. 

Zakary Foulkes to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Slower one, pitched short and wide of off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa swings and misses. 

Bhanuka Rajapaksa is in at number 6.

Zakary Foulkes to Charith Asalanka, OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE THIS TIME! Short-pitched, and takes off all the pace from the leather, around off, Charith Asalanka clears his front leg and pulls this flat. Doesn't get enough elevation and timing behind this and it came off the bottom of his bat as well. The ball was dropping in front of Glenn Phillips but him being a live wire runs in quickly from the deep mid-wicket fence, dives in front and takes this. Zakary Foulkes breaks the centurion stand for the fourth wicket.

Zakary Foulkes to Charith Asalanka, WIDE! Full and wide down the leg, Charith Asalanka looks to flick this but misses. Wided. 

Zakary Foulkes to Charith Asalanka, SIX! An excellent effort in the deep goes in vain as the replay shows the fielder was in contact with the fence with the ball in his hands. Back-of-the-hand slower one, just outside off. Asalanka waits for the ball to arrive and pulls it to deep square leg. Tim Robinson times his jump to perfection and flicks it back into play. The TV umpire though checks and confirms that his foot landed on the boundary cushions when he was in contact with the ball. SIX!

Zakary Foulkes to Kusal Perera, Good length on the pads, Kusal Perera nudges this away on leg for one. 

Zakary Foulkes to Kusal Perera, FOUR! Another boundary and he just finds the gaps on the off side. Good length on off, Kusal Perera thumps this down the ground for four towards long off. 

Zakary Foulkes to Kusal Perera, FOUR! PItched-up around off, Kusal Perera lofts this over cover for a boundary to begin the 17th. 

Jacob Duffy to Charith Asalanka, SIX! HIGH AND HANDSOME! On a length around middle and leg, Charith Asalanka takes the aerial route and finds enough power behind this to sail this over the fielder at long on and into the stands for a huge six. 

Halt! Kusal Perera is looking in a bit of discomfort and the Sri Lankan physio is out there to attend him. The magic spray is out and is being applied on the left hand's wrist area. Perera is finally good to continue now.

Jacob Duffy to Kusal Perera, On a length around the pads, Kusal Perera flicks this away for a single. 

Jacob Duffy to Kusal Perera, FOUR! Full toss on the pads, Kusal Perera stays behind the crease and flicks this up and over backward square leg for a boundary. KP has been this aggressive throughout. 

Jacob Duffy to Charith Asalanka, Back of a length on the pads, Charith Asalanka rocks back and nudges this on leg for a single. 

Jacob Duffy to Kusal Perera, Good length on the pads, Kusal Perera nudges this away on leg for one. 

Jacob Duffy to Charith Asalanka, Full toss on off, Charith Asalanka flicks this through mid-wicket for a single. 

Mitchell Santner to Kusal Perera, DROPPED AND MAKE IT WORSE, A FOUR! The Kiwis have been a bit sloppy in the fielding as another chance goes begging! Pitched up, full and around off, on a flatter trajectory. Kusal Perera sits down and reverse sweeps at it. Gets a top edge that flies to deep third. Jacob Duffy runs behind from short fine and backtracks it. He manages to get both hands at it but just shells it while taking a tumble. The ball drops and races away to the fence.

Mitchell Santner to Charith Asalanka, Short and fairly wide outside off, Asalanka reaches for it and cuts it to sweeper cover for a single.

Mitchell Santner to Charith Asalanka, SIX! BOOM! This is brilliant batting from the Sri Lankan skipper! Back of a length, outside off, Charith Asalanka gets a good width and bounce outside off. He hangs back by transferring the weight on the back foot and flat-bats it behind long off for a six.

Mitchell Santner to Charith Asalanka, SIX! That was six the moment it sprung off the bat! Drops a half-volley, right in the zone around off. Charith Asalanka clears the front leg and slogs it behind deep mid-wicket for a cracking six.

Mitchell Santner to Kusal Perera, Full and outside off. Perera gets down on a knee and sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

Mitchell Santner to Kusal Perera, FOUR! Innovative from Kusal Perera and the 50-run stand comes up between these two! Drops a slower one, on a fullish length, Kusal Perera switches hit and reverse sweeps it over short fine for a boundary.

Matt Henry to Kusal Perera, Spears in a yorker at the leg stump, sliding further on the leg stump line, Perera clears his front leg and squeezes it to deep fine for a single.