Duffy does it again: Back-to-back match winning performances
“Every time I bring him back; he seems to get a pole in the first couple of balls,”
Southland’s Jacob Duffy has delivered his second match-winning performance for the Black Caps in just three days with another stunning effort with the ball.
Duffy took four for 15 from his four overs to lift the Black Caps to a 45-run win over Sri Lanka in the second T20 international played at Mt Maunganui on Monday night.
Just two nights earlier Duffy almost single-handedly lifted the Black Caps out of a hole and propelled them to an unlikely victory over Sri Lanka in the first game of the series played at the same venue.
Duffy’s four for 15 in the second game on Monday night is now his best T20 international figures eclipsing the four for 33 he took against Pakistan on debut in 2020.
The Black Caps posted 184 from its 20 overs in game two before Duffy and the rest of the bowlers did the job bowling Sri Lanka out for 141.
His back-to-back match winning performances is massive for the 30-year-old who has been in and around the Black Caps environment for many years but has struggled for game time with the likes of Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and others in the mix.
Duffy picked up the official player of the match honour in game one, although Mitch Hay was awarded that in game two for his 41 from 19 balls with the bat.
Black Caps captain Mitch Santner was again full of praise for Duffy after game two.
“Every time I bring him back; he seems to get a pole in the first couple of balls,” Santner told TVNZ.
“Especially the first game, key wickets, and even there [in game two] the best way to slow rate rates is take wickets and that is what we were able to do in the middle.”
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In game one on Saturday night Sri Lanka was cruising towards a win at the Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui. The visitors were 121 for none after 13 overs over needing 174 for victory.
That was before Duffy changed the game in dramatic fashion in the 14th over. He took three wickets in one over, including two in two balls.
Sri Lanka continued its slide from that point finishing 164 for eight - 10 runs short of victory.
Duffy finished for three for 21 from his four overs and was handed the man of the match honours for his spell.
New Zealand and Sri Lanka will meet in the third T20 fixture in Nelson on Thursday.