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Colin Munro and Corey Anderson blasted quickfire half-centuries to power New Zealand to a convincing 74-run victory against Sri Lanka in the warm-up match of the ICC World Twenty20, at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, on Thursday.
Electing to bat first, New Zealand piled up a huge 226 for four in their 20 overs but Sri Lanka failed to put a challenge with the bat as they finished on a disappointing 152 for seven.
New Zealand's batsmen were at their attacking best with Munro smashing an entertaining 67 from 34 balls, inclusive of seven sixes and Anderson blasting 60 from 29 balls, as the two left-handers added 92 runs from 41 balls for the third wicket.
Electing to bat, New Zealand lost an early wicket when captain Kane Williamson was dismissed for 10 in the third over by Suranga Lakmal.
Williamson was dropped even before he had opened his account when Chamara Kapugedera dropped him at second slip off Lakmal but the Kiwi skipper was unable to make most of the opportunity as the same bowler-fielder combination accounted for his wicket.
Munro took no time to get going as he hit medium pacer Thisara Perera for a huge six over midwicket before Guptill ended the over with back to back sixes to take the Kiwis to 57 for one in six overs.
Guptill, who was snubbed all eight franchises in the IPL Players’ Auction, hit 41 from 25 balls, laced with six fours and a six before Sachithra Senanayake did well to judge a very high catch of Dasun Shanaka’s bowling to dismiss him.
Left-hander Munro was at his dominating best as he took Shanaka apart in his second over, slamming him for four consecutive sixes.
The left-hander blazed the first two balls of the 10th over straight down the ground for back to back sixes. He then slashed a short ball over thirdman and blasted the fourth delivery over the covers for two more sixes to take the Kiwis past the 100-run mark, in the 10th over.
Corey Anderson also joined in the party as he smashed the last ball of that over straight down the ground for a four as Shanaka conceded 29 runs in his second over with New Zealand racing to 106 for two after 10 overs.
By now Munro was in his elements as he lofted part-timer Shehan Jayasuriya for another straight six, to race to his half-century from just 21 balls, inclusive of six sixes.
There was no stopping New Zealand’s charge in the middle overs. Munro played a powerful reverse sweep off Senanayake, hitting him for another huge six, over the point region, to take the score past the 150-run mark, in the 14th over.
Shanaka brought some relief to the Sri Lanka camp with the wicket of the free-flowing Munro, who was caught at long-off inches inside the ropes by Senanayake after a whirlwind innings of 67 from 34 balls, with seven sixes after he had put on 92 runs from 41 balls with fellow left-hander Anderson.
Anderson, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, maintained New Zealand’s dominance as he launched Senanayake over long-on for a six followed by a boundary a few deliveries later. In the next over, he smashed Lakmal for a straight six to bring up his fifty from just 27 balls, having hit four fours and four sixes. Off the very next delivery, he smashed the Sri Lanka pace bowler for a flat six straight down the ground before Elliott edged it fine for a four to raise New Zealand’s 200, in the 18th over.
Anderson retired back to the dressing room after a blazing knock of 60 from 29 balls, inclusive of four fours and five sixes.
There was nothing to write about Sri Lanka's batting as none of the batsmen managed to get a half-century.
Veteran Tillakaratne Dilshan was bowled by Corey Anderson for a duck in the second over. His opening partner Dinesh Chandimal got a reprieve when he was put down at second slip by Mitchell Santner in Adam Milne’s first over and the fifth of the innings. But he failed to make the opportunity as he was dismissed two deliveries later, bowled by Milne for eight.
Lahiru Thirimanne top-scored for the Lankans with 29-ball 41, putting on 66 runs for the third wicket with Chamara Kapugedera, who made 38 from 27 balls.
Fast bowler Adam Milne claimed three for 26 in his four overs, while Ish Sodhi took two for 19 in three overs.
The two teams then played out the Super Over to get some much-needed practice ahead of the World T20.
Batting first in the Super Over, Sri Lanka smashed 25 runs in the over bowled by Mitchell McClenaghan with Kapugedera hitting 15 from four balls and Siriwardana scoring eight from two balls and they also got two wides in the process.
Lakmal, who bowled the Super Over for Sri Lanka, started with a high full toss which was not only called a no-ball for height but was also smashed over midwicket for a six. But the pacer managed to keep the Kiwis down to 20 runs as Sri Lanka emerged victorious in the practice Super Over.