Sri Lanka beats New Zealand by 7 wickets in 3rd T20I 2025; Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka rescue the team which gives New Zealand a 2-1 T20I series win.

In the third T20I of the three T20I series on Thursday, January 2, 2025 Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by seven runs. This win enabled Sri Lanka to finish off on some happier note and avoid a series clean sweep, New Zealand taking the series by 2 – 1.

Sri Lanka batted first and piled up 218 / 5 in their 20 overs with Kusal Perera, scoring a maiden T20 international hundred. This made him the third Sri Lankan male cricketer to have scored a century in T20Is. More support came from Captain Charith Asalanka who played an explosive innings of 46 of just 25 balls, three of which were sixes.

In their pursuit, New Zealand showed good fight but lack the extra push needed to compensate for the remaining portion. Rachin Ravindra was the standout with the bat, scoring 69 off 39 balls, and Daryl Mitchell made a 17 ball 35. Still the series belonged to Charith Asalanka for his brilliant all-round effort where he claimed three wickets being the final nail in the coffin for Sri Lanka.

Kusal Perera made a brilliant hundred during this match which can well be remembered as a significant moment in the NZ vs SL 3rd T20I 2025.

Also Read: Sri Lanka Defeats New Zealand by 7 Runs: Match Highlights