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New Zealand’s middle-order batter Glenn Phillips smashed a brilliant century while left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult picked four wickets in career-best figures to lead New Zealand to a crunching 65-run victory over Sri Lanka in their Group 1 match of the Super 12 stage in the T20 World Cup at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday.
Phillips made 104 off 64 balls, which included ten fours and four sixes, and shared a crucial 84-run stand with Daryl Mitchell for the fourth wicket to lift New Zealand from 15/3 to 163/7. While defending, pace bowlers Boult and Tim Southee reduced Sri Lanka to 8/4 in 3.3 overs. Although Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dasun Shanaka showed some resistance by adding a 34-run partnership, it was not enough as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 102 in 19.2 overs.
The 104 off 64 deliveries century by Phillips is the second of the tournament after Rilee Rossouw’s 109 (56) against Bangladesh.
New Zealand, with this victory, are at the top of the table in Group 1 with five points in three matches and are almost certain to seal a place in the semifinals. On the other hand, Sri Lanka are at the second last position just ahead of Afghanistan with two points from three matches. The 65-run win is also New Zealand’s biggest victory by margin against Sri Lanka in terms of runs in T20Is.
Electing to bat first, New Zealand were in trouble in the powerplay, losing openers Finn Allen by Maheesh Thikshana, Devon Conway by Dhananjaya de Silva and Kane Williamson by Kasun Rajitha, leaving New Zealand at 15/3 in four overs.
However, middle-order batter Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell who was returning after an injury, added a crucial 84-run stand to get New Zealand out of trouble. Mitchell contributed 22 off 24 balls in their partnership for the fourth wicket. Phillips then shifted his gear, smashing some magnificent shots as Sri Lanka were hugely impacted by some indisciplined bowling and poor fielding, which included dropped catches.
Eventually, Phillips brought up his second T20I hundred, scoring a scintillating 104 off just 64 balls, at a strike rate of 162.50 with ten fours and four huge sixes after being dropped twice by the Sri Lanka fielders on 12 and 45. He was also well-supported by some late cameo from Mitchell Santner who scored an unbeaten 11 off just 5 deliveries with one six at the end, as New Zealand fetched a whopping 113 runs off the last 10 overs.
In reply, the fast-bowling duo of Southee and Boult completely destroyed Sri Lanka’s top four as they were reduced to 8/4 in 3.3 overs, which soon became 58/6 in ten overs. Rajapaksa showed some fight by his entertaining 34 off 22 balls with three fours and two sixes, while Shanaka also contributed with his 35 off 32 balls which included four fours and one six.
But they were unable to stay at the crease for as long as Sri Lanka would have liked. Pace bowler Lockie Ferguson dismissed Bhanuka on the last ball of the tenth over while Shanaka was caught by Mitchell off Boult as Sri Lanka’s loss was inevitable at 93/9 in 17 overs. New Zealand specialist spinners Santner and Ish Sodhi also chipped in with two wickets each, as Sri Lanka were all out at 102 in 19.2 overs.
The pick of the bowlers for New Zealand were their quicks as Trent Boult ended with his career best figures of 4/14 from four overs while Tim Southee was economical with his 1/12 from four which also included one maiden. Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner bagged 2/21 from his four overs. This is the first time New Zealand have bowled out their opposition teams back-to-back in T20 World Cup matches, boosting their NRR to 3.85 which has increased their chances of reaching the semifinals.
Glenn Phillips was awarded Player of the Match for his brilliant knock of 104 off 64 deliveries.
“I think it’s probably going to be at the top,” Phillips told the world’s media after his match-winning effort. “I do have one other 100, and that was pretty special as well, but to be able to do it on a World Cup stage just adds a little bit more juice to it, which is kind of cool.
“To be able to have a World Cup win in front of a sticky situation is actually the most satisfying part. The boys all did their roles. Everyone came together. It’s not necessarily about one specific performance. It was actually an overall team effort,” he added.
Brief scores: New Zealand 167/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 104, Daryl Mitchell 22; Kasun Rajitha 2/23, Maheesh Theekshana 1/35) beat Sri Lanka 102 all out in 19.2 overs (Dasun Shanaka 35, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 34; Trent Boult 4/13, Mitchell Santner 2/21) by 65 runs.
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