NZ vs SL: New Zealand's Kim Cotton becomes first female umpire to officiate men's T20I match between two full-time Test playing nations

New Zealand's Kim Cotton has scripted history by becoming the first female to stand as an on-field umpire in a men's T20I between two full-time Test-playing nations. She achieved the feat after officiating the 2nd T20I between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, held on April 5 at Dunedin's University Oval.

She shared the on-field umpiring duties for the second T20I with compatriot Wayne Knights.

However, this isn't the first time that Cotton has officiated a men's game. She had earlier donned the third umpire's hat in 2020, during the tied contest between India and New Zealand held in Hamilton.

Cotton had earlier also grabbed the record for being the first-ever female to officiate a World Cup final when she took the field for the 2020 ICC World T20 Final between Australia and India, held at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

Moreover, she has been a part of three Women's T20 World Cup and one Women's ODI World Cup and also had the honour of officiating three World Cup finals in 2020, 2022 and the recently concluded 2023 T20 World Cup.

Overall, Cotton has officiated in 54 women's T20Is and 24 women's ODIs since 2018.

Earlier, Australia's Claire Polosak had become the first female ever to be included in the team of match officials for a men's game after being named the fourth umpire for the Sydney Test of the 2021-22 Border-Gavaskar trophy.

New Zealand level series by defeating Sri Lanka in the second T20I

After sustaining a defeat in the series opener, New Zealand have given it back to Sri Lanka as they defeated the visitors comfortably by 9 wickets in the second T20I. Winning the toss, New Zealand put Sri Lanka to bat first in a decision that came out to be well executed.

Contrary to expectations, Sri Lanka failed to put up a big total in the first innings as none of the batters except Kushal Perera, Dhanajaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka managed to step up. De Silva top-scored with 37, whereas Perera and Asalanka scored 35 and 24 each as Sri Lanka were eventually bundled out for 141. For New Zealand, fast bowler Adam Milne starred with the ball, picking up a fifer while giving away just 26 runs in his allotted quota of 4 overs.

Chasing 142, New Zealand took off to a destructive start as opener Chad Bowes hammered the Lankan bowlers to hit seven fours off 15 deliveries, notching up a quick-fire 31, before falling prey to Kasun Rajitha. Tim Seifert and Tom Latham then put up an unconquered 106-run partnership where Seifert effected most of the damage. Playing 43 deliveries, Seifert smashed three fours and six sixes to notch up 79 at an impressive strike rate of 183.72.