Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st T20I Highlights: Ross Taylor shines as Kiwis defeat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st T20I Live Highlights: Follow Highlights of Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 1st T20I.

Highlights: Ross Taylor played a knock of 48 runs off just 29 balls, allowing New Zealand to defeat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series in Pallekele. Chasing 175, New Zealand got off to the worst start possible as Lasith Malinda rattled the stumps of Colin Munro (0) in the very first over of the innings. Martin Guptill was also not able to stay at the crease for a long time as he was sent packing by Akila Dananjaya to reduce Kiwis to 18/2. Ross Taylor and de Grandhomme retrieved the innings for Kiwis as the duo scored at a brisk pace and they managed to put up a stand of 79 runs, but their resistance came to an end as Malinga clean bowled de Grandhomme (44), reducing Kiwis to 118/4, still 57 runs away from the target. with this wicket, Malinga became the highest wicket-taker in T20Is, surpassing Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi.

New Zealand won by 5 wickets. (Action Images via Reuters)

Teams:

New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Seth Rance, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Daryl Mitchell, Tim Seifert(w), Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee(c), Ish Sodhi

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Dasun Shanaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Akila Dananjaya, Isuru Udana, Wanidu Hasaranga, Lasith Malinga(c), Kasun Rajitha