New Zealand 7-174 (Rob Nicol 58, Martin Guptill 38, Akila Dananjaya 2-32) tied vs. Sri Lanka 6-174 (Tillakaratne Dilshan 76, Mahela Jayawardene 44, James Franklin 2-34) Sri Lanka won the game after Super Over.

Tillakaratne Dilshan played a devastating knock as Sri Lanka levelled the target set by New Zealand and won the game after a sensational Super Over.

New Zealand scored 174 runs with three wickets in hand at the end of their allotted quota of 20 overs and Sri Lanka replied by scoring 174 runs as the match was tied.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka) was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his outstanding knock of 76 from 53 balls.

The salient features of the match

1-   Sri Lanka won a T20 while chasing at home for the first time.

2-   The 18-year-old right arm off spinner, Akila Dananjaya, made his T20 debut for Sri Lanka.

3-   Rob Nicol scored his second fifty in the shortest version of the game.

4-   Tillakaratne Dilshan achieved his 6^th fifty.

5-   First encounter of the ICC World Twenty20 2012 that ended after a Super Over.

Match details

The 13^th match, Group 1 of the ICC World Twenty20 was played on Thursday, September 27, 2012, at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

The toss was won by the New Zealand skipper, Ross Taylor who sent in Rob Nicol and Martin Guptill to initiate the innings. The start was rather slow and just four runs were scored off the first two overs. Guptill was dropped on the second ball of the next over and he added 11 runs in the same over with a couple of fours. The boundaries started flowing from the bats of the two batsmen and the first fifty was scored in the sixth over.

The score was enhanced to 57 in 7.3 overs when Akila Dananjaya claimed his maiden wicket in T20 by dismissing Martin Guptill for 38 off 30 balls with 6 fours. The most devastating batsman of the game, Brendon McCullum, joined in next with Nicol and the run rate escalated instantly. Nicol hit the first six of the innings on the last ball of the 9^th over and McCullum followed him on the very next ball. Akila Dananjaya dropped Rob Nicol at his own bowling for 31 and the second wicket partnership was extended to 99 in 12.2 overs. Brendon McCullum was gone after scoring 25 off 16 deliveries with 2 sixes at that point.

Ross Taylor walked in next as Nicol punished Ajantha Mendis for 21 runs in the 15^th over with 3 lofty sixes and also completed his fifty. Rob Nicol was caught by Lahiru Thirimanne off Akila Dananjaya for 58 off just 40 balls with 4 huge sixes and 3 fours. Ross Taylor scored 23 runs as the Black Caps reached 174 for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs.

Akila Dananjaya and Nuwan Kulasekara were the top wicket takers with two each whereas Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis claimed one wicket each.

The Sri Lankan captain, Mahela Jayawardene came out to open the innings along with Tillakaratne Dilshan. They took off extremely well as Dilshan scored 17 runs in the first over with 1 six and 2 fours and Jayawardene carried on with the attack by dispatching 2 sixes and 1 four in the next two overs. Both batsmen added another 19 runs in the fifth over with 2 sixes and 1 four and the score was lifted to 80 in 7.2 overs. Mahela Jayawardene was caught at fine leg by Daniel Vettori off Jacob Oram for 44 scored on 26 balls with 3 delightful sixes and even fours.

The most seasoned batsman of the Islanders, Kumar Sangakkara, replaced Jayawardene and hit two fours in the 10^th over. Tillakaratne Dilshan attained his 6^th T20 half century in the 12^th over and Sangakkara was run out for 21 runs off 14 balls with 4 fours as the total touched 119 in 12.1 overs. Dilshan took over from there and played a masterly knock with a little assistance from the other end.

The Lankan Lions required 21 from the last 12 balls as Tillakaratne Dilshan hit a six on the first ball of the 19^th over. He was unluckily run out on the very next ball while attempting a second run for 76 off 53 mere deliveries with 4 giant sixes and 3 fours. The target was reduced to 8 runs in the last 6 deliveries as Lahiru Thirimane got a four on the fifth ball. He was run out on the last ball while trying to get the winning single and thrill was added to the match. Sri Lanka managed 174 runs as well with four wickets in hand, the match was tied and both teams had to bowl a super over.

James Franklin was the most successful bowler by securing two wickets and Jacob Oram held one.

Super over (New Zealand) – bowler, Tim Southee

1^st ball – 2 runs Mahela Jayawardene

2^nd ball – 1 run

3^rd ball – 1 run,Thisara Perera, wide

3^rd ball – 2 runs

4^th ball – 2 runs, wide and 1 run

4^th ball –1 run, Jayawardene, run out

5^th ball – 1 run, Tillakaratne Dilshan, 1 bye

6^th ball – 3 runs, Perera

Total runs scored – 13

Super over (Sri Lanka) – bowler, Lasith Malinga

1^st ball – 2 runs, Martin Guptill

2^nd ball – 1 run

3^rd ball – 2 byes, Brendon McCullum

4^th ball – 1 run, dropped

5^th ball – Guptill out, caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan

6^th ball – no run, McCullum

Total runs scored – 6 runs

Result – match Tied – Sri Lanka won the one-over eliminator

Points secured by two teams – Sri Lanka 2, New Zealand 0