(UTV-COLOMBO) Sri Lanka led by Charith Asalanka recorded a comfortable win over New Zealand XI in their T20 Warm up game and T-10 warm up game played yesterday at Sutcliffe Oval grounds Lincoln.
The leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga showed his all round capabilities in both matches and it was the highlight of these two warm up games. This is good news for Sri Lanka team as Hasaranga was back to the field after recovery from his leg injury. Hasaranga got injured during the last home series against New Zealand and missed the Lanka T-10 super league tournament and he had to undergo recovery period before the New Zealand tour.
In the first T-20 game between two teams Sri Lanka registered an easy 7 wickets win and Sri Lanka bowlers dominated the game to restrict hosts for just 94 runs in 13. 4 overs. Wanindu Hasaranga showed his usual skills to claim 3 for 12 in his 2.3 over spell while seamer Matheesha Pathirana 2 for 7 in 1.4 overs and skipper Charith Asalanka 2 for 4 in 1 over bowled well to bundle out opponents with 6.2 overs to spare.
Both Lankan openers Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka were back in the pavilion without scoring but Kusal Janith Perera hit 22 ball 30 with 4 fours and six while Kamindu Mendis scored 22 ball 28 in 4 fours and six. Skipper Charith Asalanka scored 6 ball 18 with a four and 2 sixes guided to reach the target in just 10.5 overs.
Meanwhile, the two sides involved in a T-10 encounter after the completion of the T-20 warmup game at the same venue.
Sri Lanka batted first this time and posted a commanding total of 128 for 2 wickets in their allotted 10 overs. The opener Pathum Nissanka (31 off 15 with 5 fours and a six ), Wanindu Hasaranga (27 off 11 with 3 fours and 2 sixes) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (25 off 16 with 2 fours and two sixes ) made useful contributions to build up the innings.
New Zealand X1 chasing the target of 129, their number three batter Matthew Boyle hit unbeaten 57 in 34 balls with 2 fours and 5 sixes but they couldn’t reach the target and managed to get 96 for 2 wickets in 10 overs. Sri Lanka fought back to record 32 run victory. The paceman Nuwan Thushara was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka as he grabbed 2 wickets for 10 runs in his 2 over spell.
This was the only warm up game of the series and Sri Lanka will meet New Zealand in their first T-20 game of the 3 match series on December 28 at Mount Maunganui.
Chief Scores
* T-20 Warm up Game: Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets
New Zealand XI – 94 all out in 13.4 overs (Joe Carter 10 Bevon Jacobs 39, Callum McLachain 11 Chamindu Wickramasinghe 1/39, Wanindu Hasaranga 3/12, Binura Fernando 1/8 Charith Asalanka 2/4, Matheesha Pathirana 2/7, Kamindu Mendis 1/5)
Sri Lanka 97 for 3 wickets in 10.5 overs (Kusal Perera 30, Kamindu Mendis 28, Charith Asalanka 18*, Ben Lister 1/10, Matthew Fisher 1/15, Adithya Ashok 1/19)
* T -10 Warm up Game: Sri Lankan won by 32 runs
Sri Lanka 128 for 2 wickets in 10 overs (Pathum Nissanka 31,Kusal Mendis 13, Wanindu Hasaranga 27, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 25, Charith Asalanka 13*)
New Zealand XI – 96/2 (10) (Matthew Boyle 57*, Joe Carter 23, Nuwan Thushara 2/10)