Colin Munro blasts New Zealand’s fastest T20 half century in win over

Munro’s 50 off just 14 balls came just 20 minutes after Martin Guptill hit New Zealand’s fastest fifty when the latter reached the milestone in 19 balls.

New Zealand are looking for a sweep in all three formats against Sri Lanka after taking the opening T20 by three runs in Mt Maunganui. But Munro replaced him at the crease – and in the New Zealand record books.

Munro smashed the fastest T20 half-century by a Black Cap as the home side chased down the 143 target with 10 overs to spare to take the series 2-0.

Big-hitting Colin Munro says he’s enjoying the freedom to play his natural game after a record-breaking performance in New Zealand’s nine-wicket Twenty20 win over Sri Lanka.

New Zealand had previously won the two-match test series against Sri Lanka 2-0 and the five-match one-day series 3-1 with one match abandoned.

They had 58 up in the first four overs and Guptill had hit five sixes before touching a catch behind off Perera for a 25-ball 63.

Colin Munro blasts New Zealand's fastest T20 half century in win over

Dilshan got to a run a ball 28 before reverse sweeping a catch off Grant Elliott. Angelo Mathews was a highlight for the Sri Lankan’s – posting a career-high 81 not out – but he was let down by his team-mates, with only Tillakaratne Dilshan (28) reaching double figures.

After being asked to bat first, the tourists lost Danushka Gunathilaka, Shehan Jayasuria and Dinesh Chandimal inside the first seven overs to leave them reeling on 39 for three.

The result also meant that Sri Lanka slipped from No. 1 to No. 3, behind West Indies and Australia, in the ICC team rankings for T20Is.

The chief destroyer was Grant Elliott with 4 for 22 in his first game back at Eden Park since his six off the penultimate ball against South Africa to get New Zealand into the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 final. “Thanks to Angelo we were able to put a competitive total on the board but I’m really disappointed with the way we bowled”.

Mitchell Santner (2-24) and fast bowler Adam Milne (2-36) grabbed the other wickets for the Black Caps.