PALLEKELE, Wednesday: New Zealand’s stand-in T20I captain fast bowler Tim Southee said the difference between the two teams was the presence of Colin de Grandhomme.
The 33-year-old hard-hitting all-rounder from Harare has proved to be a thorn in the Lankan side especially with his aggressive batting that has seen New Zealand win three matches in a row – the second Test and the first two T20 internationals of the ongoing series.
It was de Grandhomme’s knock of 83 off 77 balls that allowed New Zealand to declare early and gave them sufficient time to bowl Sri Lanka out a second time and win the second Test at the P Sara Oval and share the series one-all.
Then in the first two T20Is Grandhomme has figured in two match winning partnerships first with Ross Taylor where his contribution was 44 off 28 balls and on Tuesday with Tom Bruce when he scored 59 of 46 balls. Both innings were made after New Zealand had lost early wickets and were in some kind of trouble. They were 39-3 in the first T20I and 38-3 in the second T20I.
“Colin’s played particularly in both games so far and he’s continued his form from the last Test match. He’s played some great cricket and he is striking the ball nicely. He is coming out at a time when we are in a little bit of trouble as well,” said Southee.
“He’s been smart and he’s been good with the other guys at the other end. The way Tom Bruce played he hasn’t played for New Zealand for a long time and to come in and take the place of Roscoe and put in a performance like that is very pleasing as well.”
Southee who is leading New Zealand in the absence of regular captain Kane Williamson who has been rested is doing a great job for his country leading them from the front with some striking bowling spells that has seen him come up with figures of 2/20 in the first T20I and 2/18 in the second that won him the Man of the Match award.
“I am just going out there to do a job for the team it’s nice to contribute in the two games. So far my role hasn’t changed in doing a job for the team. Pleasing to contribute to two wins and when you do that to your country it’s always a nice feeling,” said a modest Southee.
New Zealand are holding onto an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and will be looking for a clean sweep of the series on Friday when the third and final match is played at Pallekele.
“It’s nice to have done it after two games, still another game to come in two days time. We’ll enjoy a series win and another good performance. Different guys have stepped up at different times guys who have come in haven’t played a lot of cricket. It’s pleasing and its sign of a very good side,” said Southee.
“We are not complacent at all we’ll enjoy the series win with two very good games. We will shift our focus to the last game and it would nice to finish the tour on a high.”
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