Kiwis in 38-run win over Lanka
Ranjan Anandappa reporting from South Africa
Sri Lanka’s chances of entering the second phase of the Champions
Trophy plummeted when they suffered a 38 run defeat at the hands of New
Zealand in a crucial game at New Wanderers Stadium at Johannesburg
yesterday.
Sri Lanka’s batting was not at full throttle in the last two games
besides the opener against South Africa. There was no exception in this
game either. They were in pursuit of 316 runs to win and were finally
dismissed for 277 in 46.2 overs.
The Sri Lanka openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Tillekeratne Dilshan gave
a moderate start putting on 66 off 7.5 overs in which Dilshan struck 41
off 31 balls with seven fours and a six while Jayasuriya after facing
eighteen balls with four boundaries was out for 24.
It was left to the former captain Mahela Jayawardena to perform the
rescue act while wickets were tumbling at the other end. The New Zealand
bowlers were able to extract life from the wicket which the Sri Lankan
bowlers could not. Jayawardena stood firm and struck a valiant 77 off 85
balls with six fours and two sixes with support coming from Nuwan
Kulasekera who scored a vigorous unbeaten 57 which contained two fours
and four sixes facing 56 deliveries.
Jayawardena and Kulasekera were involved in a 78 run stand for the
seventh wicket off 11 overs which gave some respite for the Sri Lankans.
However, Sri lanka after losing to England and New Zealand has a slim
chance of entering the semi-final depending on the outcome of the other
matches to be played in their group.
Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara electing to field after winning
the toss said that almost every team batted first on this surface had to
struggle a bit on a seaming wicket and left out his ace spinner Muttiah
Muralidharan and brought in left arm medium pacer Thilan Thushara into
the side. New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori believed that if his side
doesn’t lose wickets in the first ten overs a total of 250 runs could be
a competitive score. New Zealand left out injured Jacob Oram and brought
in James Frnaklyn into the eleven.
Any doubts about the wicket was quickly put into rest when New
Zealand batted. Their openers, neither Jesse Ryder nor Brendon McCullum
did struggle or show any discomfort against the opening attack of Thilan
Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekera and Lasith Malinga who was hit all around the
park as. Kiwis got off to a blazing start. In the sixth over the Kiwis
reached 50 with Ryder being the aggressor striking six fours and a six
facing 22 deliveries for his 38. Ryder recorded his third ODI half
century off 28 deliveries with eight fours and a six posting 76 for 0 in
ten overs. He smacked Kulasekera for two sixes over extra cover and mid
wicket.
Sangakkara switched his bowlers from the pacemen to Mendis in an
effort to get the breakthrough, but left hander Jesse Ryder and McCullum
batted with assurance, they cruised to 100 for 0 off 101 deliveries with
Ryder batting with an aid of a runner after developing a hamstring
injury on 63 and McCullum 33.
However, Ryder after putting on 125 for the first wicket off 20 overs
with McCullum slashed one outside his off stump in Kulasekera’s second
spell of bowling and was caught behind. Ryder’s 74 came off 58
deliveries and contained ten fours and a six.
Then New Zealand suddenly lost their way, Mathew bowling in his
second spell struck twice when Dilshan at backward of point went
sprawling to catch McCullum for 46 after facing 72 deliveries with five
fours and despatching Grant Elliot leg before while Jayasuriya
accounting for Ross Taylor.
However, the early impetus given by the openers Ryder and McCullum
was all undone, as the Sri Lankans clawed their way back into contention
via Kulasekera, Mathews and veteran Sanath Jayasuriya within the space
of 24 deliveries. It was left to skipper Daniel Vettori to resuscitate
his side, and he did it quite competently.
With the score reading 169 for 5 in the 32nd over Vettori was
reprieved when keeper Sangakkara broke the wicket without having the
ball in his hand, this proved to be expensive for the Lankans as Vettori
and Martin Guptil added 69 runs for the 6th wicket in 70 deliveries.
More contributions coming from the bats of James Franklyn (28 n.o) and
Kylle Mills (18 n.o) saw New Zealand reach their 300 run mark. Guptil,
Mills and Franklyn hit 61 runs in the batting power play in the last
five overs.
NEW ZEALAND
B. McCullum c Dilshan b Mathews 46
J. Ryder c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 74
M. Guptill b Malinga 66
R. Taylor c Jayawardene b Jayasuriya 4
G. Elliott lbw b Mathews 0
N. Broom c Jayawardene b Jayasuriya 15
D. Vettori c sub (Kapugedara) b Jayasuriya 48
J. Franklin not out 28
K. Mills not out 18
Extras (b3, lb2, w8, nb3) 16
Total (7 wkts, 50 overs) 315
Fall of wickets: 1-125, 2-128, 3-133, 4-140, 5-161 , 6-230 , 7-284.
Bowling: Kulasekara 7-0-52-1 (1w), Thushara 7-0-50-0 (2nb, 4w), Malinga 10-0-84-1 (2w),
Mendis 9-1-49-0 (1nb), Mathews 6-0-33-2, Jayasuriya 10-0-39-3, Kandamby 1-0-2-0.
SRI LANKA
T. Dilshan c sub (J. Patel) b Mills 41
S. Jayasuriya c Mills b Tuffey 24
K. Sangakkara c Taylor b Franklin 11
M. Jayawardene b Vettori 77
T. Samaraweera c Broom b Vettori 17
T. Kandamby run out 11
A. Mathews c Guptill b Franklin 2
N. Kulasekara not out 57
T. Thushara c Guptill b Mills 11
L. Malinga c Taylor b Mills 15
A. Mendis c Vettori b Tuffey 3
Extras (lb2, w5, nb1) 8
Total (all out, 46.4 overs) 277
Fall of wickets: 1-66, 2-67, 3-85, 4-114, 5-137, 6-141, 7-219 , 8-243, 9-262, 10-277.
Bowling: Mills 10-0-69-3 (1w), Bond 9-0-82-0 (1w), Tuffey 8.4-1-39-2 (3w), Franklin 9-0-40-2 (1nb), Vettori 10-0-45-2. |