New Zealand VS Sri Lanka: T20 World Cup 2022🏏

Glenn Phillips and Trent Boult were the heroes as New Zealand charged to a big 65-run wicket over Sri Lanka on Saturday night at the Sydney Cricket Ground. New Zealand looked to be in a serious hole after losing three early wickets but Phillips stood up, smashing 104 off 64 to give his team a strong total of 167. Phillips entered the action in the third over, with New Zealand in all sorts after losing two wickets, but proceeded to hit 10 fours and four sixes in his 61-ball knock. “I thought that was a pretty special knock and I take my hat off to how he played, that was unbelievable,” teammate Daryl Mitchell said.

New Zealand’s bowling unit then tore Sri Lanka to shreds in ruthless fashion, with Trent Boult taking four wickets in a particularly impressive performance. Saturday’s game took on particular significance after wet weather wreaked havoc the day before. Group 1 is wide open after both matches in Melbourne on Friday — Australia v England and Afghanistan v Ireland — were washed out. The win on Saturday sees New Zealand top the group and put themselves in a strong position to make the semi-finals.

Sri Lanka made a fast start, with Finn Allen and Devin Conway both departing in the space of three overs to put New Zealand in a heap of pressure and at 2-11. Allen, who hit 42 off 16 in New Zealand’s win over Australia, went for just one run this time around after being bowled by an in swinger from dangerous spinner Maheesha Theekshana. The spin bowling continued to find success as Conway, New Zealand’s other opener, was dismissed soon after having being clean bowled after looking to launch it over extra cover.

It did not get any easier for the Black Caps as Kane Williamson went quickly, with a length ball outside off from Kasun Rajitha taking care of the Kiwi skipper. Nothing was going right for the Kiwis , that was until Sri Lanka dropped Phillips on 12 and it proved to be a costly mistake. Phillips was eventually dismissed but far too late, having already put 104 runs on the board to put New Zealand in a strong position given their early struggles.

Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, they did not have much more success with the bat in hand, losing three early wickets and in need of one of their own players standing up like Phillips did. Pathum Nissanka was the first to go before Kusal Mendis, their leading batter at the tournament, followed shortly after with Tim Southee and Trent Boult each claiming an early wicket. Boult made it two though when he dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva, leaving Sri Lanka in a serious hole at 5-3.

It later became three as the wickets continued to tumble, Charith Asalanka the next to go for just four funs after picking up backward point with Allen in position to take the catch. My prediction is that Sri Lanka would not be able to qualify for the Semi-finals of T20 World Cup 2022. They have a hard journey in this group, however this group is wide open and a win against England would surely gave them confidence to enter into the Semi-finals. Now, they have to win against England and Afghanistan by a huge margin and would hope that Australia and England would lose their remaining matches respectively.

New Zealand is one of the most dangerous team in this T20 World Cup 2022. They are looking excellent in all the three departments of cricket. They are surely the favourites to qualify for the Finals. They had a great Run-rate. They had a shaky start as they lost quick wickets against Sri Lanka, but Philips rescued his team by scoring a marvellous century. The bowling department looks very dangerous. Now, they have their remaining matches against Ireland and England which they have to win only one to qualify for the Semi-finals.

In this T20 World Cup, we are able to see exciting matches and the Minows beating the Greats of the team. Like West Indies not able to qualify this time in this T20 World Cup 2022. It was a very unexpected result but Ireland that had beaten England had a great outing in this World Cup. Kane Williamson has still not performed with the bat for his team. He is getting out early and not timing the ball perfectly. Zimbabwe also have shown a positive attitude of playing cricket in this T20 World Cup 2022.

They had beaten strong teams like Pakistan and West Indies in the competition. Sri Lanka is looking good to enter into the Play-offs and I feel that they have to regroup after the tournament. They would have to take positive from the tournament and start fresh. Whilst the New Zealanders will be applauded for their ability to apply crippling pressure when in the ascendency – something Sri Lanka let slip – the usually tactile fielding will surely come under review during the week with no less than four, admittedly tough, run-out chances failing to hit.