New Zealand and Sri Lanka played a thrilling contest in the series decider at the John Davies Oval in Queenstown, where the hosts emerged victorious by 4 wickets to grab the series.
Put in to bat, the Islanders put up a challenging total of 182/6 in their 20 overs, thanks to a brilliant knock from Kusal Mendis, who scored 73 runs off just 48 balls with 6 fours and 5 sixes. Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka also made valuable contributions with the bat. For New Zealand, Ben Lister was the pick of the bowlers, with 2 wickets for 37 r𝔉unsꦦ.
In their chase, the Black Caps got off to a decent start, but it was Tim Seifert who stole the show with a breathtaking innings of 88 runs off just 48 balls, which included 10 fours and 3 sixes. Tom Latham and Mark Chapman also played their part with the bat. Lankan pacer Lahiru Kumara bagged t൩hree wickets for 🔯38 runs. The contest went down to the wire, where New Zealand managed to reach the target with just one ball to spare.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
A series win in Queenstown! 🏆
Catch up on all scores 👉
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS)
//twitter.com/sp♛a💧rknzsport/status/1644563276825772035
Tim Seifert has been playing good cricket. I wonder if there were mid-season trade options in the ipl, 𒆙there will be players like him in contention.
— vatsal (@VatsalKMaru)
Another close game against New Zealand..
NZ 🍸clinch the decider in🎀 Queenstown to bag the T20I series 2-1 💔
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC)
A fantastic innings from Tim Seifert ends on 88 in 48 balls. Missed out on a very well deserved ce𓂃ntury 📖here!
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra)
Tim Seifert in this T20I series vs Sri Lanka:
•0(3).
•79*(43).
•88(48).After first game, he played remarkably💯 wel﷽l in both games. He is the hero for New Zealand in this T20I series. Well played, Seifert!
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh)
Tim Seifert smashed a brilliant 88 off 47 ba💛lls in the decider T20i 𒊎match against Sri lanka, made his new T20i high score, well played.
— Re𝕏anth (@141ovalclassic)
New Zealand won by 4 wickets!
Sri Lanka 182-6 (20)
New Zealand 183-6 (19.5)Player of the Match – Tim Seifert
Player of the Series – Tim Seifert
— Thimira Navod (@ImThimira07)
We꧙ll played Man. you have put a lot of Mind Blowinౠg shorts.
— Amandeep Sharma (@amansharma6723)
Tim ♉Seifert produced a match-ওwinning innings in the third T20I 👏
— Ritesh Ghimire (@reeteshjee)
