Phillips score burst of the century, Boult lost four points to leave Sri Lanka on the verge of elimination.
Glenn Phillips scored a brilliant century to rescue New Zealand from a rocky start and help them to a spectacular 65-match win over Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup.
Saturday’s win also places the Black Hats at the top of Group 1.
The muscular right hand helped revive New Zealand’s rounds from 15 to three in the fourth round. He ultimately failed in the final by scoring 104 points with his team finishing the half with 167 to seven.
With catcher Trent Boult (4-13) taking the lead, the New Zealand bowlers took over and gave Sri Lanka an even worse start, reducing the 2014 champion to 8 goals in the 4th half and eliminated them with 102 in the 20th half.
Tied to England, Australia and Ireland at the top of a disruptive Super 12 group earlier in the day, New Zealand trailed their rivals by two points and improved their already impressive net run rate.
Sri Lanka will now need a remarkable result to secure one of the top two spots and a place in the semi-finals.
Things got off to a good start for the Asia Cup champions on a balmy spring evening at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Finn Allen put off Australia’s godly speed attack in their opening match of a 16-42 game, but this time he managed only three balls and one run, sending a player into the ball. confused in the opening match.
Devon Conway, who went 92 games unbeaten against Australia, had a slightly better result, with cameraman Dhananjaya de Silva disqualifying him for just one.
Things took a turn for the worse when captain Kane Williamson (eight) got an out-of-speed shot from pitcher Kasun Rajitha on the next table.
Phillips and Daryl Mitchell, back to the side after breaking their arm, crawled up 54 trebles midway through.
But Phillips then flipped a switch and began swinging the club, which, with his sloppy assist, was dropped by Pathum Nissanka on the 12th and again on the 45th by captain Dasun Shanaka.
The 84-time match against Mitchell ended when his teammate was bowled by Wanindu Hasaranga for 22 points. Mitchell Santner was by his side as he carried only his second T20 100 in 19 before being fired.
