ODI World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka scored 171 runs against New Zealand

Sri Lanka and New Zealand faced off each other at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in a crucial encounter. New Zealand needed a win to solidify their grasp over the fourth spot on the points table. In comparison, Sri Lanka required a win to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first. Both teams named one change each to their sides. Lockie Ferguson came in the Blackcaps playing 11 by replacing Ish Sodhi while Chamika Karunaratne replaced Kasun Rajitha in the Sri Lankan team. Sri Lanka scored 171 runs in the first innings. Here is a summary of what happened in the first innings.

Sri Lanka lost 5 wickets in powerplay

Trent Boult bowling the first over started in a great manner bowling a 1-run over. Tim Southee from the opposite end induced an outside edge from the bat of Kusal Perera but the regulation catch was put down by wicketkeeper, Tom Latham. On the very next ball, Pathum Nissanka was dismissed as Latham made no mistake this time around. Perera then unleashed his wrath on the Kiwi pacers. Both Perera and Kusal Mendis smashed a four each in the third over as Boult conceded 12 runs. Perera then smashed two fours and a six in the following over as Southee leaked 15 runs. 

Boult took his 50th wicket in the World Cup by dismissing the Sri Lankan skipper in the fifth over. The left-arm pacer became just the sixth bowler to take 50 wickets in ODI World Cups. In the same over, he dismissed Sadeera Samarawickrama. Perera smashed three fours and a six in the sixth over as Southee continued to be expensive. Boult too was hit for two consecutive fours by Perera. The Sri Lankan opener brought up his half-century in just 22 balls in the eighth over with a four off Lockie Ferguson’s bowling. Boult dismissed the previous match’s centurion, Charith Asalanka. Ferguson dismissed the half-centurion, Perera in the final over of the powerplay.

New Zealand continue to take quick wickets

Mitchell Santner came into the attack in the 13th over replacing Boult. Santner started his spell with controlled lines and lengths conceding just five runs in his first two overs. The left-arm spinner dismissed Angelo Mathews to pick up his first wicket of the match. Mathews scored 16 runs in 27 hitting two fours. In his following over, Santner dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva. De Silva scored 19 runs in 24 balls hitting two fours and one six. Ferguson came back into the attack in the 22nd over and picked up another wicket in just his second over of the spell. The Kiwi speedster dismissed Chamika Karunaratne. New Zealand lost eight wickets with just 113 runs on the board. 

After three quiet overs going for just two runs, Maheesh Theekshana finally showed some intent into the innings and smashed Santner for two consecutive fours in the 27th over. Santner bounced back in style bowling a maiden over in the following over. Boult came back into the attack in the 30th over and bowled a maiden over. Santner finished his economic spell with figures 10-2-22-2. Boult bowled another maiden over as runs again dried up for Sri Lanka. Rachin Ravindra replaced Santner and came back into the attack in the 33rd over. He made an instant impact and ended the annoying ninth-wicket partnership which lasted more than 50 balls. Boult too ended his spell with figures of 10-3-37-3. 

Theekshana and Dilshan Madushanka held the fort for a long time and scored some crucial runs. The duo shared a 43-run stand before Ravindra dismissed Madushanka in the 47th over. The partnership lasted for 87 balls.