New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips smashed a powerhouse 104 and Trent Boult grabbed four wickets as the black caps swept past Sri Lanka by 65 runs in Sydney on Saturday at the Twenty20 World Cup Super 12 match.
The victory was also New Zealand's biggest against Sri Lanka in terms of runs in T20Is, reports ICC.
Chasing 168, Sri Lanka's innings never got going as they failed to counter the clever bowling from Tim Southee and Trent Boult. Southee scalped one wicket in the first over, with Boult scalping two in the second as Sri Lanka were reduced to 6/3. Boult would have his third in his fourth over, sending Charith Asalanka packing as Sri Lanka were reeling at 8/4.
Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka's spirited effort of 35 for 32 would also come to an end as Boult ended his knock to scalp his fourth of the match. The pacer would end his spell with figures of 4/13. Ish Sodhi would scalp the final wicket of Lahiru Kumara in the final over as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 102.
Sri Lankan batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored 34 off 22 before being dismissed by Lockie Ferguson.
In the first innings, New Zealand batter Phillips would be dismissed in the final over by Lahiru Kumara but not before scoring a breathtaking 104 off only 64 balls. Phillips hit ten fours and four massive sixes in his brilliant knock.
The victory in Group 1 sees New Zealand sit at the top of the table in Group 1 with 5 points in three games. It also sees them edge one step closer to sealing a place in the semi-finals.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
