Victory over Sri Lanka puts New Zealand atop group A
Boult takes four shots, and Phillips smashes a scorching century to push Sri Lanka to the verge of defeat.
With victories in both of their games, New Zealand leads their group. At the T20 World Cup, Glenn Phillips’ superb century helped New Zealand overcome a shaky beginning to defeat Sri Lanka by 65 runs.
The Black Caps now lead Group 1 by a wide margin after their victory on Saturday.
The powerful right-hander assisted in saving New Zealand’s innings after it had fallen to 15 for three in the fourth over. After scoring 104, he eventually fell in the last over, leaving his side with a score of 167 for 7.
The New Zealand bowlers grabbed control under the leadership of paceman Trent Boult (4-13), giving Sri Lanka an even worse start by dropping them to eight for four in the fourth over and dismissing them for 102 in the twentieth.
Boult picked up four wickets as New Zealand easily defeated Sri Lanka.
Initially tied for first place in the rain-affected Super 12 group with England, Australia, and Ireland, New Zealand gained two points ahead of their opponents and enhanced their already exceptional net run rate.
For Sri Lanka to claim one of the top two slots and a spot in the semifinals, they will now require an extraordinary run of results. On a warm spring evening at the Sydney Cricket Ground, things got off to a good start for the Asia Cup champions.
Finn Allen destroyed Australia’s venerable pace attack in their first game with a 16-ball 42, but this time he only managed three balls and one run after being stumped by an inswinger in the first over.
Devon Conway, who scored an unbeaten 92 against Australia, did not fare much better, as spinner Dhananjaya de Silva only managed to get one wicket off of him.
When pace bowler Kasun Rajitha gave captain Kane Williamson (9) an outside edge in the following over, things took a turn for the worst.
Victory over Sri Lanka puts New Zealand atop group A
At the midway stage, Phillips and Daryl Mitchell struggled to 54 for three after Mitchell had returned to the side after breaking his hand.
However, Phillips later flipped a switch and started swinging the bat, helped by shoddy fielding. Pathum Nissanka dropped Phillips on 12, and skipper Dasun Shanaka dropped him again on 45.
When Mitchell’s partner was bowled for 22 by Wanindu Hasaranga, their 84-run partnership came to an end. When he reached only his second T20 100 in the 19th over before being removed, Mitchell Santner was standing next to him.
