New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in the second T20 match with two balls to spare from half-century innings of Colin de Grandhomme (59) and Tom Bruce (53). The two shared a 103-run partnership for the fourth wicket, and this victory gave New Zealand an unassailable by 2–0 lead in the three-match series. Sri Lanka, batting first, scored 161 for 9 wickets in 20 overs, in response to which New Zealand won by scoring 165 runs at the loss of 6 wickets in 19.4 overs. New Zealand did not start well and opener Colin Munro (13) was dismissed in the second over. He was caught out by Akila Dananjaya. Dhananjay then put Scott Kuggeleijn (08) and Tim Seifert (15) under three balls in his second over, putting New Zealand under pressure. Dhananjay took three wickets for 36 runs in four overs. After this, Grandhom and Bruce shared a century partnership to take the team closer to victory.
This partnership was broken by Isuru Udana (1 for 18) by dismissing Grandhomme. Grandhomme scored 59 runs in 46 balls with the help of 2 fours and 3 sixes. Bruce hit 3 fours in a 53-ball innings. In the 19th over, his muscles were stretched and he was run out on the first ball of the 20th over. Darrell Mitchell was also dismissed on the next ball but Mitchell Santner won the match for New Zealand by hitting 1 six and 1 four off the next two balls of this over from Hasranga de Silva. The first blow to the Sri Lankan team that won the toss before winning the toss was given in the fifth over by Seth Rance (3 wickets for 33 runs), who caught Kusal Mendis (26) at the hands of captain Tim Southee. After eight balls, second opener Kusal Perera (11) also became the victim of Ish Sodhi (one wicket for 34 runs).
Avishka Fernando (37) and wicketkeeper Niroshan Dikwela (39) then took over the innings. Both failed to convert a good start into a big innings, but the partnership of 68 runs between them laid the foundation for a respectable score and the two batsmen were dismissed on the backfoot in the four balls. Fernando hit three fours and a six in a 25-ball innings before being dismissed by a Saudi (two wickets for 18 runs). Niroshan Dikwela became the second victim of Rance. He hit three fours and a six in 30 balls. Shanaka Jayasuriya began to open his hands that the Saudis showed him the path to the Pavilion. He scored 20 runs in 13 balls.
Second T20 : New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by 4 wickets
