Sri Lanka's bold decision to bowl first sparks debate against New Zealand
- New Zealand scored 186 runs, led by Mitchell Hay's explosive 41 not out.
- Sri Lanka was all out for 141, with Jacob Duffy capturing four key wickets.
- This match secured the series for New Zealand, leading 2-0 with one match left.
On December 30, 2024, New Zealand faced Sri Lanka in the second match of a three-match Twenty20 series at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first, but New Zealand managed to post a strong total of 186 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in their allotted overs. Mitchell Hay played a standout role as he scored an unbeaten 41 runs off just 19 balls, while Jacob Duffy excelled with the ball, taking 4 wickets for only 15 runs, rolling over the Sri Lankan batting order. As a result, Sri Lanka struggled and was all out for 141 runs in just 19.1 overs, succumbing to a 45-run defeat, following an earlier win by 8 runs in the first match of the series. This victory solidified New Zealand's lead in the series, putting them ahead 2-0 with one game remaining. The match highlighted the imbalance between the two teams regarding their adaptation to the playing conditions in New Zealand, which were described as more bouncy compared to home. The Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka expressed his team’s need to adjust more rapidly to the conditions to improve their performance in the upcoming matches.