New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips smashed 104 and Trent Boult took four wickets as they crushed Sri Lanka by 65 runs in Sydney on Saturday to make the semi-finals.
With Phillips unstoppable, New Zealand posted 167-7 after losing Finn Allen, Doug Conway and Kane Williamson for 15 runs to Ireland’s top order.
Following that, Boult and Southee reduced Sri Lanka to 4-8 and there was no way back for them as they fell for 102 all out. With a total of 4-13 in his career, Boult ended the game with a career high.
The 109 Phillips scored against Bangladesh in 64 balls was the second century of the tournament after South African Rilee Rossouw’s 109.
Having any hundred is incredible, but the way he worked hard after our poor start was incredible,” Williamson said. They executed the plans really well. I am very pleased with how well they did.”
Phillips, scoring a century
According to Phillips, scoring a century at the World Cup was an “absolutely indescribable feeling.”
“In the past, I tried to entertain as much as I could, and today’s performance was good,” he stated.
In Group One, both matches rained out on Friday – Australia vs England and Afghanistan vs Ireland – leaving plenty on the line.
The win gives New Zealand a two-point lead and a better run rate than England, Ireland, and Australia when two games remain.
On Tuesday, they will play England in Brisbane while Sri Lanka will face Afghanistan the same day in a must-win match.
We dropped a few catches and 160 is always a tough task with their bowling attack,” said Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka.
Our best chance of qualifying remains if we get a couple of wins, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Went downhill
After losing the toss, Sri Lanka switched to the spin of Mahesh Theekshana, and the result was immediate.
With an inswinger in the opening over, Allen made just three balls and one run during Australia’s opening game.
In contrast to Conway, who smashed an unbeaten 92 against Australia, he fared slightly better in this match. During the second innings, the spinner Dhananjaya de Silva joined the attack and bowled Conway for a single as well.
The situation worsened when Williamson (8) caught behind in the following over by pace bowler Kasun Rajitha.
A halftime score of 54-3 reached by Phillips and Daryl Mitchell, who had returned to the side after breaking his hand.
Phillips then flicked a switch, assisted by sloppy fielding, by dropping Pathum Nissanka on 12 and Shanaka on 45.
As a result of Wanindu Hasaranga’s strike, Mitchell and his partner dismissed for 22 runs after an 84-run stand. During the 19th over, Mitchell Santner joined him on the ground when he brought up only his second T20 100.
It was a disastrous start for Sri Lanka, as they lost three wickets for five runs in the first five overs.
After Southee dismissed Nissanka lbw, long-term partner Boult took two wickets in his first over, including a wicket-maiden.
In turn, he enticed Kusal Mendis to edge to Conway, then chopped onto the wicket. It didn’t last long for Charith Asalanka, who was caught by a diving Allen, as Boult scored his third goal.
After Santner came on and Karunaratne swung his bat, Boult caught in the deep. Sri Lanka was left in a lurch.
As a result, Shanaka scored a gutsy 35 and Bhanuka Rajapaksa hit a third consecutive 34, but to no avail.
