New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Highlights, 3rd T20I: Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 7 runs

Mitchell Santner now collects the trophy gracefully and heads towards his teammates who await their skipper behind the winner's board. The entire New Zealand squad now poses for the commemorative photographs. The Kiwis have kicked off men's international cricketing calendar in 2025 with a victory. And that wraps up a thrilling three-match T20I series, with New Zealand emerging as deserving 2-1 winners. The focus now shifts to the 50-over format as both teams gear up for an intriguing three-match ODI series. The action moves to Basin Reserve, Wellington for the series opener on Sunday, January 5th, with the first delivery scheduled for 10 pm GMT on the previous day. Until we meet again, goodbye and take care!

The captain of Sri Lanka, Charith Asalanka says that it was a good win for them and throughout the series, they have played some good cricket but couldn't cross the line. On being asked about bringing himself to bowl, he says that he had the experience to bowl in home conditions, but didn't bowled a lot overseas. Also says that they had to try since they were a bowler short. About their approach for the ODI series, Asalanka mentions that it is a momentum shift for them with this win and they would be trying hard to adapt to the situation. Also congratulates their opponents and says that New Zealand has played fantastic cricket and he hopes that Sri Lanka will do better in the ODIs. On Perera's century, he says that he has no words to describe that knock and ends up saying that it is only after 2011 or so that they have got a T20I century, so it is really special for the team.

The captain of New Zealand, Mitchell Santner is up for a quick chat. He says the surface was tough on the bowlers and Sri Lanka did better. Mentions that it is great to see such a massive turnup from the crowd. Reckons that there are a lot of positives and despite a defeat in this contest they did not do much wrong here.

Jacob Duffy is adjudged as the PLAYER OF THE SERIES for his impactful bowling performances throughout this T20I series. He says that it is a proud moment to represent the country and play in front of this fantastic crowd. Mentions that the ball did come out his hand well throughout the series and the backing from the management and the skipper has helped him a lot.

Kusal Perera is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his explosive knock of 101 runs off just 46 deliveries. He says that it's a pleasure whenever you score a hundred for your country. Says that when he went to bat, he copped a blow on the helmet and wasn't expecting that, but it kind of gave him a wake-up call. Mentions that normally subcontinent tracks are effective for spinners but fast bowlers dominate in this part of the world. Adds that they got starts in the last two matches but couldn't finish the game. Also mentions that their coach said once you get the start, try and finish the game and ends by saying that's what he tried to do in this game.

... THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ...

Earlier, Sri Lankan batters went on a rampage, with Kusal Perera leading the charge with his maiden T20I century. The visitors started cautiously but soon shifted gears, taking advantage of some wayward bowling and a poor fielding effort from the Kiwis. Perera's 101 was the highlight of the innings, with Charith Asalanka providing valuable support with a 46-run knock. Mendis, Avishka, and Pathum Nissanka got starts but couldn't carry on for long. The New Zealand bowling unit had an off-day, serving up too many 'hit-me' deliveries that the Sri Lankan batters gleefully accepted. Each of the Kiwi bowlers, including Duffy, Henry, Foulkes, Santner, and Mitchell, managed to take only one wicket each.

The Sri Lankan bowlers had a shaky start, with both spinners going for plenty in their initial spells. However, Charith Asalanka bowled exceptionally well, taking 3 wickets. Wanindu Hasaranga took 2 wickets in the final over of his spell while Binura Fernando and Nuwan Thushara also chipped in with a wicket each.

New Zealand's chase of a massive total got off to a flying start, with the opening pair adding 81 runs for the first wicket. The Kiwi openers were aggressive in the Powerplay, scoring 63 runs off the first 6 overs. However, the Kiwis lost their way in the middle phase, losing wickets in quick succession. Despite a valiant effort from Daryl Mitchell, who took the attack to Charith Asalanka in the 15th over, the Sri Lankan bowlers regained control and closed out the game. Rachin Ravindra top-scored for the Kiwis with 69, while Daryl Mitchell and Robinson played useful knocks, but ultimately, it was not enough.

Sri Lanka secured a thrilling 7-run victory over New Zealand in the third T20I, but it is the Kiwis that take the silverware with a 2-1 series win. 

Binura Fernando to Mitchell Santner, That's it! SRI LANKA WIN! Binura does the job for the tourists! A gentle-paced delivery, on a shortish length, outside off, Mitchell Santner gets beaten by the pace-off delivery and mistimes his pull shot in the air. It lands in the safe zone behind mid-wicket and they cross for a single. 

Binura Fernando to Zakary Foulkes, Good comeback from Binura! Just a single! Full and outside off, right into the blockhole. Foulkes digs it along the ground to wide of cover for a single.

Binura Fernando to Zakary Foulkes, SIX! GAME ON IN NELSON NOW! Binura Fernando now misses his length and serves a juicy half-volley on off, Zakary Foulkes gets the front foot out of the way and swings through very hard. Gets the middle of the bat and tonks it behind long off for a huge six.

Binura Fernando to Zakary Foulkes, Goes wide again, full and across off, Zakary Foulkes drives it through the gap between cover and point for a quick couple of runs. This is an excellent exhibition of death bowling from Binura. Three balls, on the money!

Binura Fernando to Zakary Foulkes, WIDE! Slanting it across off, beyond the tramline, Zakary Foulkes shoulders arms at it. The umpire stretches his hands and gives it a wide. 18 off 4 needed now.

Binura Fernando to Mitchell Santner, Binura rolls his fingers and takes the fingers off the ball again. Goes fuller and outside off, Mitchell Santner clears his front leg to slog across but gets a thick inside edge onto the pads for a single as the ball rolls beside the pitch.

Binura Fernando to Mitchell Santner, A pace off ball, very full and outside off, Mitchell Santner mistimes his heave across and slices it in the air. The ball lands in front of the deep mid-wicket fielder for a couple of runs.

Sri Lanka have been penalized as they couldn't complete these 20 overs in time. Meaning, an extra fielder will have to be stationed inside the inner ring, with only 4 permitted to be outside the circle. Binura Fernando to wrap things off in the final over.

Nuwan Thushara to Mitchell Santner, Back of a length and outside off. Santner pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single. 22 needed off the last over now.

Nuwan Thushara to Mitchell Santner, SIX! THAT IS HUGE! Thushara misses the yorker and ends up slipping in a low full toss, outside off, Mitchell Santner bends low, gets his bat under the ball, connects well and slashes it aerially over deep point for a six.

Nuwan Thushara to Zakary Foulkes, Darted in, full and outside off, Zakary Foulkes shuffles across off and sits down to paddle it away but misses and gets rapped on the front pad. The ball rolls in front of backward point as they cross for a leg bye.

Nuwan Thushara to Zakary Foulkes, WIDE! Short and wide, on a length. Foulkes throws kitchen-sink at it but misses to connect. Wide given.

Nuwan Thushara to Zakary Foulkes, Had to hurry there to get back home! A low wide full toss, Zakary Foulkes bends low and guides it to wide of backward point. The ball runs to the deep and the batters complete the second run.

Nuwan Thushara to Zakary Foulkes, A low full toss on the off-stump line, Zakary Foulkes gets his bat beneath the ball and lofts it over mid-wicket. It lands on a couple of bounces to the fielder in the deep. Two runs taken!

Nuwan Thushara to Mitchell Santner, Fired in full and outside off, Santner goes across and shovels it out to long on for a single. Singles won't hurt Sri Lanka at all.

With New Zealand requiring 36 runs, Nuwan Thushara to bowl the penultimate over. He is 3-0-20-1 so far.

Binura Fernando to Zakary Foulkes, On a length outside off, Zakary Foulkes shuffles across and goes for the scoop but misses yet again. 

Binura Fernando to Zakary Foulkes, Another swing and a miss. On a length wide of off, Zakary Foulkes moves across and goes for the ramp but misses on the inside. 

Binura Fernando to Zakary Foulkes, Wide yorker outside off, Zakary Foulkes leaves it. 

Binura Fernando to Zakary Foulkes, WIDE! Too full and wide outside off, Zakary Foulkes shoulders arms it. Wided. 

Binura Fernando to Zakary Foulkes, On a length outside off, Zakary Foulkes swings but misses. 

Binura Fernando to Zakary Foulkes, FOUR! A boundary to keep the Kiwi hopes alive. Short-pitched, on off, Zakary Foulkes pulls this flat and into the gap towards deep mid-wicket for four. The equation now comes down to 37 off 16 balls.

Binura Fernando to Mitchell Santner, Short-pitched, on leg, Mitchell Santner flicks this towards deep mid-wicket for one. 

Nuwan Thushara to Zakary Foulkes, FOUR! Full and wide outside off, Zakary Foulkes opens the face of his bat and slices this towards the fence at deep third for a boundary. Much-needed one for New Zealand.

Nuwan Thushara to Mitchell Santner, Full toss on off, Mitchell Santner smashes this to long off for one. 

Nuwan Thushara to Mitchell Santner, Yorker, outside off, Mitchell Santner swings but misses. 

Nuwan Thushara to Zakary Foulkes, LEG BYE! Full toss outside off, Zakary Foulkes moves across and looks to flick but misses. The ball deflects off his pads towards leg and the batters take one. Leg Bye signaled. 

Nuwan Thushara to Zakary Foulkes, WIDE! Full and way to wide outside off, Zakary Foulkes leaves it. Wided. 

Zakary Foulkes is the new batter in for New Zealand.

Nuwan Thushara to Daryl Mitchell, OUT! IN THE AIR AND CHAMINDU WICKRAMASINGHE HOLDS ON! Too full, shaping away from the batter on off. Daryl Mitchell looks to slog this across the line but does not get his bat properly underneath the bat. Hence, gets no proper timing on it and a leading edge travels straight over the bowler and towards Chamindu Wickramasinghe at long off for a regulation catch to his right. A massive dent to the Kiwis' hope of chasing this down as they are reduced to 170/7 now, needing 49 more to win 22 balls remaining.

With 49 runs required off 24 balls remaining, here's Nuwan Thushara for his third over. He is 2-0-14-0 so far.

Nuwan Thushara to Daryl Mitchell, Full and wide outside off, Daryl Mitchell swings and misses. 

Wanindu Hasaranga to Mitchell Santner, Tossed up on middle and leg, Mitchell Santner defends this one. A sensational over lives up to the topsy-turvy nature of this contest. 

The Kiwi skipper, Mitchell Santner walks in at number 8.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Michael Bracewell, OUT! FLAT IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! A screamer of a catch from Charith Asalanka! You just cannot keep Asalanka out of action. This is a tossed-up delivery, drifting around off, Michael Bracewell goes for the cover drive, and smacks it too hard, but ends up hitting this a bit uppish and flat straight towards Charith Asalanka. The fielder dives towards his left and grabs this just above the grass. New Zealand have now slipped from 168/4 to 170/6.

Wanindu Hasaranga to Daryl Mitchell, Short and wide outside off, Daryl Mitchell cuts this towards deep third for a single this time. 

Wanindu Hasaranga to Daryl Mitchell, Short and wide outside off, Daryl Mitchell cuts this to backward point for no run. 

Wanindu Hasaranga to Michael Bracewell, Tossed up on the pads, Michael Bracewell flicks this towards deep mid-wicket for one. 

Wanindu Hasaranga to Mitchell Hay, OUT! TIMBER! Hasaranga strikes and breaks the 39-run stand for the fifth wicket. Hasaranga dishes out a wrong'un, and tosses it up, right into the stumps, Mitchell Hay jumps down the track and looks to slog this one across the line of the ball. It beats the bat of Hay and it goes on to clatter the stumps. Michael Bracewell walks out as the next batter. 

Charith Asalanka to Daryl Mitchell, Darted it wide but a bit slower, angling across the batter. Daryl Mitchell swings and misses.