Charith Asalanka Knock Seals Four-Wicket Sri Lanka Win Over New Zealand In 1st T20I
A captain's knock by Charith Asalanka steered Sri Lanka to a hard-fought four-wicket victory over New Zealand with six balls to spare in Saturday's T20I opener in Dambulla. Chasing a modest 136 to win, Sri Lanka's batsman struggled to capitalise against the second-string visiting team. But a crucial 38-run stand for the sixth wicket between Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga steadied the ship and inched the team to victory. "Overall it is a good win," Asalanka said. "We should have restricted them to 110 or 120 but they did well with the lower order."