New Zealand vs Sri Lanka live blog: T20 World Cup highlights, updates and scores

If we rely on freshness as the only factor to decide who will win tonight, this is the game to lose for New Zealand.

After beating Australia at the SCG, the Kiwis took a short flight to Melbourne to split the points in a rain-shortened encounter without a ball being played.

Then there is Sri Lanka. Now three fast bowlers – three! – in Binura Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka and spearhead Dushmantha Chameera, Sri Lanka will no doubt have the highlights of the 1996 World Cup on repeat as they attempt to conjure up a bit of magic from an indifferent start to the T20 World Cup.

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Stay with Sports News as we deliver bullet-by-bullet coverage of Game 27, live from the SCG.

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka T20 World Cup live updates, SCG highlights: as it happened

17th plus: Phillips shows off his stumps, daring Theekshana to attack him. He then simply backs up and smashes – it’s not always elegant but it doesn’t need to be right now – six. Two of them above. 4/129

16th plus: Phillips has 24 of his last 10. It’s a very different match to the one he got to when he was 15. Now to the 16th above. Three singles and a disrespectful 89-yard six on the edge of Phillips’ ground off Lahiru. Two more singles and it’s 4/113.

15th plus: Extra cover, meet the flying ball. Phillips makes the introduction and follows it up with a long range punch. COUNTER! Mitchell fails to choose the wrong one and it’s the end of a wonderful partnership. Neesham makes his way and New Zealand reach their 100.

14th above: Chamika has now thrown seven slower balls in a row. Now be brings the field so it will be more or less the same. CHANCE! A tough chance but Dasun Shanaka drops a runaway shot and it’s Phillips’ 50. He seems ready now. The race between the wickets here is exemplary. 18 of the most, the biggest of the sleeves. 3/94

13th plus: Wanindu is back on the attack with his… slinger? According to Mark Howard, it is “the collapse”. Anyway, he gives up six points for the overrun spread on the ground. 3/76

12th above: For all the early antics, New Zealand have still lost just three wickets. With a few in hand and their world-class offense, there’s something salvageable here. The partnership is currently 51 (46). Not fast at all, but certainly added some stability to New Zealand’s innings. A few more errors on the field and seven runs. 3/70.

11th plus: Dhananjaya is powered up and resumes. New Zealand, however, look quick between the wickets. 1, 2, 2, 1 on the top four and Sri Lanka are split: it’s clear who the attacker is here. Nine of her. 3/63

10th plus: Phillips’ hands are warming up, he’s really throwing them through the ball right now. He slides a ball to the deep point, then a blisters six. He had a bullet less than a length and just lit it, lifting it off its pads. It’s 50 for New Zealand. Eight runs away and it drinks. 3/54

9th above: Just the three rounds. 3/45

8th above: Looks like Sri Lanka is just digress a bit here. Lahiru Kumara is in the attack and immediately concedes a four. Too short for Phillips, who gloves the ball to the limit. Yeah, then he goes over for a free kick in New Zealand. 12 strokes from the top with the spinning strike. 3/42

7th plus: De Silva continues and it looks like Phillips and Mitchell will continue to swing the shot as they orient themselves. CHANCE! Oh no, Nissanka dropped a lofted drive straight on him from Phillips. He was too low to get caught in the lights: he just took it off. Expensive? Surely. 3/30

6th plus: Mitchell and Phillips have to light it here. Phillips responds with a ball behind the point, taking advantage of such a hint of width. One more race and it’s six more. 3/25

5th plus: Theekshana is tidy and the level of chatter increases. Sri Lanka in the lead. 3/19

4th plus: Rajitha resumes. It was a diabolical start for New Zealand but Williamson looked electric, choosing the length early and throwing his hips, bat and enough power to scare a small army through the ball. What a hit for four. 3/15

Oh. COUNTER! Williamson is caught driving. a length ball moves away from the seam and he has to go. SCENES. Capital letters intended.

3rd: WICKET! Dhananjaya enters the fray and gets rid of Conway with only his second ball. Looks like Conway tried to get him over some extra coverage and just… missed. Phillips is in and sends the second ball to him through the covers. 2/11

2nd plus: Kasun Rajitha takes the ball and, like Theekshana, looks to use the big limit to his advantage. a tight first, limiting New Zealand to three points. 1/6

1st on: Theekshana drags us along, trying to use the big limit to her advantage. COUNTER! A slight inswinger with the fourth ball from the most and it was too much for Allen. he gave himself too much space and New Zealand are one wicket away. Williamson is in and immediately out of place. 1/3

30 minutes to first ball: A change for both teams: Daryl Mitchell replaces Mark Chapman, while Kasun Rajitha comes in place of the injured Binura Fernando.

45 minutes to first ball: New Zealand won the toss and will be first at bat.

One hour before the first ball: Good evening and, dare we say it, an enthusiastic nod to the weather gods: it looks like we’ll be having cricket tonight. Stick around as we get the squads confirmed, think about what to expect in the next fortnight, and get ready for what’s going to be one jaw-dropping cricket match.

A stat to get you started (via Cricinfo): New Zealand have won 10 and lost seven T20Is against Sri Lanka. In the T20 World Cups, however, the tally is 4-1 in favor of Sri Lanka, despite having not met at this tournament since 2014.

New Zealand vs Sri Lanka T20 full scoreboard

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