Sri Lanka spinners restrict New Zealand to 209 after Chapman 76

November 17, 2024
10:19 pm

New Zealand 209 all out (Chapman 76, Hay 49, Theekshana 3-31) vs Sri Lanka(47 overs a side)

Rain stopped play twice and on either side of those stoppages, Sri Lanka’s spinners brought the game to a crawl while their fielders stole the show as New Zealand inched their way up to 209 all out in the second ODI in Pallekele. Only a half-century from Mark Chapman and 49 for Mitchell Hay brought about a modicum of respectability for New Zealand, on a slow surface.

Aside from those two innings, just two other batters – Will Young (26) and Glenn Phillips (15) – managed to crack double digits, while extras made up 12. Jeffrey Vandersay and Maheesh Theekshana shared three wickets apiece, while Charith Asalanka deserves a mention for giving away just 29 runs in his eight overs. Asitha Fernando meanwhile worked tirelessly as the solitary frontline seam option and was rewarded with the prize wicket of Chapman and Michael Bracewell.

All the Sri Lankan bowlers however owe a debt of gratitude to their outfielders who, despite dropping some tough chances, held on to even tougher ones. Avishka Fernando was at the forefront of this excellence, completing two nearly identical grabs, diving forward in the deep to scoop the ball centimetres off the ground, to dismiss both Phillips and and Chapman.

And he was not done yet, taking another stellar catch on the run and slide to remove Bracewell. Pathum Nissanka too threw his name in the hat for catch of the match, with a stunning sprint from long-off towards mid-off, culminating in a full-length dive to hold on to a skier from Mitchell Santner.

Sri Lanka’s ground fielding too was on point, with the infielders in particular smothering the visiting batters, competing for every run. This was highlighted by an astonishing 157 dot balls being played out across the course of the innings – one that had already been shortened to 47 overs due to rain.