![NZ vs SL [WATCH]: Finn Allen survives as bails do not fall after the ball hits his off-stump in Auckland ODI](https://crickettimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Finn-Allen-escapes-after-ball-hits-his-off-stump-1260x657.jpg "NZ vs SL [WATCH]: Finn Allen survives as bails do not fall after the ball hits his off-stump in Auckland ODI")
The first One-Day International (ODI) between New Zealand and Sri Lanka is currently underway at Eden Park in Auckland. Put in to bat first, the Black Caps have posted 274 in 49.3 overs, thanks to explosive opener Finn Allen, middle-order batter Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips.
Allen, in particular, shined with the bat and smashed a half-century as he appeared extremely fluent during his stay. The 23-year-old, however, had a big slice of luck in his favour in the early part of his innings.
Allen was on 9 off 6 balls when a delivery from Kasun Rajitha clipped his off stump but didn’t remove the bails. Former New Zealand cricketer Craig McMillan, who was on the air, initially screamed: “Bowled him!” before saying: “No, he hasn’t. Wow… he [the bowler] thought he had as well.”
It all happened during the third over of the New Zealand innings when Rajitha bowled a peach of a delivery which shaped away after pitching and flicked the off-stump on its way to the keeper. However, the bails didn’t come off as all the Lankan players, as well as Allen, were left stunned.
Here is the video:
https://twitter.com/sparknzsport/status/1639450145841639424
Allen was eventually dismissed for 51 from 49 deliveries, including 5 fours and 2 sixes. Apart from the opening batter, Mitchell, who recently bagged the Sir Richard Hadlee medal in New Zealand Cricket Awards, smashed 47 off 58 balls with the help of 3 fours and 2 maximums. Similarly, Phillips also smacked 42-ball 39 to help the Black Caps reach a respectable total.
After the New Zealand innings, Allen admitted they could’ve pushed the total a bit more but was satisfied with what they posted on the board. He lavished praise on Chamika Karunaratne, who bagged a 4-wicket haul for 43 in 9 overs, stating that the Lankan pacer made it tough for the New Zealand batters.
“With the base that we had, we could have looked to push for a few more. It’s certainly a score I think we are pretty happy with on that wicket. It was certainly a tricky wicket. The way Karunaratne bowled through the middle, hit his lengths nice, got a little bit of seam movement and made it tough for us,” said Allen after the end of the first innings.
