New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in 2nd T20

Black Caps win by 4 wickets, take 2-0 lead

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka, Sept 3, (AP): Colin de Grandhomme and Tom Bruce scored half-centuries and shared 109 runs for the fourth wicket Tuesday to help New Zealand to a tense four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second Twenty20 match and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Sri Lanka captain Lasith Malinga elected to bat first after winning the

Bruce made 53 of 46 deliveries including three boundaries.

Mitchell was out in the next ball when he was caught in the deep by substitute fielder Lahiru Madushanka, leaving New Zealand to score seven off four deliveries.

Mitchell Santner hit the next ball for a six when Shehan Jayasuriya took the ball well on the full but hit the boundary rope after colliding with teammate Kusal Mendis.

Both fielders had to leave the field before Santner hit the fourth ball for a boundary to compete the win.

New Zealand won the first match by six wickets, with the last match due to be played in the same venue on Friday.

Dananjaya took three wickets for 36 runs for Sri Lanka.

Earlier Niroshan Dickwella (39) and Fernando (37) shared 68 runs for the third wicket after Sri Lanka had lost two wickets for 40 runs.

Mendis gave Sri Lanka a flashy start by scoring 26 runs off 24 deliveries, hitting two sixes and two boundaries. Jayasuriya made a useful 20 runs off 13 deliveries.

New Zealand’s Seth Rance took three wickets for 33 runs while fellow seamers Tim Southee and Kuggelejin took two wickets each.