NZ complete stunning turnaround to go 1-0 up

New Zealand completed a sensational comeback in the first T20I in Mount Maunganui over Sri Lanka to win by eight runs. Sri Lanka, given a target of 173, were cruising for most of their run chase before Jacob Duffy began the downward spiral.

The turning point came in the 14th over when Duffy picked up three wickets in an over to give the hosts a slight opening. He first got Kusal Mendis (46) to glove a pull to the 'keeper before following it up with the wickets of Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis off consecutive deliveries, both batters falling for ducks.

Duffy could not pick up a hat-trick but ended with figures of 4-0-21-3, breaking the game open completely. Sri Lanka needed 29 off the last three overs and with seven wickets still in hand, the odds were heavily stacked in their favour. But young Zakary Foulkes dealt a further blow after Charith Asalanka pulled another short delivery straight down the throat of the deep square leg fielder.

The drama intensified as Bhanuka Rajapaksa was adjudged LBW first ball but survived through the recourse of DRS as the ball was pitching outside leg. The batter then ended the 18th over with back-to-back boundaries with the game in the balance.

Pathum Nissanka, who watched the carnage unfold from the other end, couldn't rescue the visitors despite having scored 90. In what appeared like he had nailed a cut over point, Tim Robinson took a stunning catch in the deep to dismiss the set batter and pin the visitors further back. Matt Henry then sent Rajapaksa's leg-stump for a walk in the penultimate over. Foulkes then had Maheesh Theekshana caught and Wanindu Hasaranga run-out as the hosts closed out a famous win.

Earlier on, Daryl Mitchell led the hosts batting innings with 62. He also found an able batting partner in Michael Bracewell who scored 59 off 33. The hosts were 65 for 5 in 10 overs but the two batters put on a 110-run stand in 58 deliveries to bring up a competitive score on the board which eventually proved to be enough.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 172/8 in 20 overs (Daryl Mitchell 62, Michael Bracewell 59; Binura Fernando 2-22, Maheesh Theekshana 2-29) beat Sri Lanka 164/8 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 90, Kusal Mendis 46; Jacob Duffy 3-21, Matt Henry 2-28) by 8 runs