Job done: NZ’s 15-year run at venue continues

Black Caps paceman Adam Milne (third from left) is congratulated by team-mates (from left) Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Chad Bowes and Tom latham after taking his fifth wicket against Sri Lanka in the second T20 international at the University Oval in Dunedin yesterday. Dilshan Madushanka is the Sri Lanka batter dismissed. PHOTOS: STEPHEN JAQUIERY

The Black Caps kept their 15-year unbeaten run at the University Oval alive with a comfortable nine-wicket win against Sri Lanka in front of nearly 3000 fans yesterday.

Fast bowler Adam Milne shone brightest. The right-armer nabbed three wickets in his last over to snatch five wickets.

His haul of five for 26 helped dismiss the visiting side for an under-par 141.

He became just the third New Zealander to nab a five-for in a T20 international — joining Tim Southee (5/18) and Lockie Ferguson (5/21).

Tim Seifert took over from there. He pummelled an undefeated 79 from 43 balls to polish off the win.

The winning runs came by way of an outrageous reverse sweep for six.

The ball before sailed over the rope on the other side of the ground.

A couple of nice shots there by Seifert.

Black Caps batter Tim Seifert hits a boundary through the onside on his way to scoring 79.

Sri Lanka won the opening game of the three-match series in a super over at Eden Park on Sunday, so the series will be decided in Queenstown on Saturday.

Milne actually started poorly. He dropped short twice in the opening over and Pathum Nissanka pulled him to the rope both times.

Note to self — do not drop too short.

Ben Lister missed the memo and was swung away for six by Kusal Mendis.

But when the batter tried to repeat the dose later in the over, he skied a catch to Latham.

Nissanka got a top edge and perished shortly after for nine. Maybe the bat was no good.

He broke the one he started with and had to discard it.

New Zealander Kim Cotton created history in Dunedin yesterday. The 45-year-old became the first female on-field umpire in a full-member men’s T20 international during the Black Caps second match against Sri Lanka. She has previously officiated in 54 women’s T20Is, both as an on-field and TV umpire, and clocked 24 women’s ODIs since 2018. Cotton has also stood in six men’s first-class games, four list A matches and 25 T20 games.

Sri Lanka was 50 for two at the end of the powerplay. Honours even.

But the visiting team claimed some momentum through Kusal Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva.

The pair put on 62 for the third wicket. A couple of boundary-free overs created the opportunity which accounted for Perera on 35, and Dhananjaya de Silva picked out long-on on 37.

The launching pad was shaken further when Dasun Shanaka sliced a catch to Lister at backward point.

A defendable target slipped further away with each desperate hit and hope.

Sri Lanka collapsed from a solid position at 91 for two in the 12th over to all out at the end of the 19th over.

The visiting side was maybe 50 runs short of a more competitive tally.

SRI LANKA

P Nissanka c Lister b Milne 9 (8)

K Mendis c Latham b Lister 10 (5)

K Perera c Neesham b Milne 35 (32)

D de Silva c Lister b Ravindra 37 (26)

C Asalanka c Sodhi b Milne 24 (19)

D Shanaka c Lister b Shipley 7 (8)

P de Silva c Milne b Neesham 9 (5)

M Theekshana c Latham b Lister 0 (4)

P Madushan b Milne 1 (3)

K Rajitha not out 1 (1)

D Madushanka b Milne 0 (2)

Extras (1b, 2lb, 5w) 8

Total (all out, 19 overs) 141

Fall: 1-18, 2-29, 3-91, 4-99, 5-122, 6-134, 7-135, 8-140, 9-141, 10-141.

Bowling: A Milne 4 overs, 0 maidens, 26 runs, 5 wickets (2w), B Lister 4-0-26-2 (1w), H Shipley 3-0-25-1, R Ravindra 3-0-24-1, J Neesham 2-0-20-1 (2w), I Sodhi 3-0-17-0.

NEW ZEALAND

C Bowes c WH de Silva b Rajitha 31 (15)

T Seifert not out 79 (43)

T Latham not out 20 (30)

Extras (1lb, 15w) 16

Total (1 wicket, 14.4 overs) 146

Fall: 1-40.

Bowling: M Theekshana 4-0-18-0 (1w), D Madushanka 1-0-18-0, K Rajitha 2-0-25-1 (2w), P Madushan 2-0-21-0 (3w), D Shanaka 1-0-10-0 (1w), WH de Silva 3-0-22-0, DM de Silva 1.4-0-31-0.

Result: New Zealand won by nine wickets.