Kiwis hold their nerve, coast to a one wicket win
* Sangakkara’s fighting 68 runs in vain
* Malinga bowls a fiery spell to take 4 for 34
Elmo Rodrigopulle Reporting from England
After a poor display of batting, the Sri Lankan bowlers led by that
slinging sensation Lasith Malinga bowled from out of their skins, but
did not have enough runs to complete their act as the Kiwis scrambled to
a heart stopping one wicket victory.
New Zealand in reply to Sri Lanka’ 138 scored 139 for 9 in their
match at the Sophia Garden Ground in Cardiff, here today. It was one of
the most exciting matches seen in one day cricket and although the
Lankans lost they were certainly not disgraced.
Malinga who bowled with a lot of venom, tried his best bring the
Lankans an unlikely victory, but that he failed was not his fault.Other
than for Sangakkara, the rest of the batsmen must take the blame for the
defeat.
Held their nerve
The Kiwi batsmen after Martin Guptil made 25,the McCullum brothers
Brendon 18 and Nathan 32 held their nerve to charter the course for a
victory that they will always remember. Nathan McCullum was the man of
the match.
When the New Zealanders began their chase it looked an easy one. But
they never bargained for a fight back by the determined Sri Lankan
bowlers, who compensated for the poor show by their batsmen. Shaminda
Eranga started the collapse when he had Luke Ronchi taken behind by
Sangakkara for 7 at 14 which triggered a collapse where the Kiwis lost
four more wickets to leave the game wide open at 70 for 5. Williamson
went LBW to Malinga for 1, Ross Taylor from whom much was expected went
LBW to Rangana Herath for a duck, Martin Guptil was brilliantly taken by
Jayawardena at slip off Eranga for 25 and James Franklin was LBW to
Dilshan for 6. The game was on.
At 86 Daniel Vettori went LBW to Malinga for 5 trying to work a ball
down the leg side.
He had apparently got bat to ball and was disappointed when ruled
out. It was an error by the umpire.
Gallant knock of 68
A gallant knock of 68 from Kumar Sangakkara with 8 fours in 87 balls
saw Sri Lanka make 138 all out in 37.5 overs. He batted sensibly and
with responsibility while wickets fell around him.
Had it not been for his knock the Lanka score would have looked a
sorry sight. The wicket looked a good one to bat first and when the
Lankan openers, young Kusal Janith Perera and Tillekeratne Dilshan
walked out they were expected to give the team a solid start to build
on. But the Lankans were off to horror start when Perera was out first
ball of the match.
He lunged forward to an away ball from Kyle Mills and the ensuing
edge flew to Brendon McCullum at second slip who took an outstanding
diving catch. 1 – 0.
Kiwi bowlers inspired
That early wicket seemed to have inspired the Kiwi bowlers who
attacked relentlessly and were successful in pocketing the wickets of
Tilekeratne Dilshan for 20, Mahela Jayawardene for 4,Dinesh Chandimal
for no score and at 38 for 4, the innings was on the skids.
Dilshan went bowled through the ‘gate’ by McClenaghan, Jayawardene
went LBW to Vettori bowling his fourth ball after two years, Dinesh
Chandimal went caught behind by Luke Ronchi for a blob off Kyle Mills
and at 38 for 4, the innings was in shambles.
A 31-run stand between Kumar Sangakkara who was batting solidly and
Captain Angelo Mathews 9 took the score to 65 when McClenaghan bowled
Mathews round his legs, leg stump.
Thirimanne run out
Left hander Lahiru Thirimanne came in and for no reason played a ball
to mid wicket and dashed down. Sangakara did not respond and Thirimanne
was run out for 9. It was a wicket wasted. 86-6.
Then an enterprising standoff 32 between Sangakkara and Thisara
Perera took the score to 118 when Perera instead of keeping his wicket
intact an supporting Sangakkara tried a big hit and skied to Vettori at
mid on off McClenaghan for 15 with 2 fours. Sangakkara who was holding
the batting together, tried to loft MCCullum over extra cover and skied
to Williamson fielding at point for 68. It was a responsible knock from
Sangakkara.
McClenaghan 4 for 43
Kyle Mills 2 for 14. But it was left armer Mitchell McClenaghan who
had the best figures of 4 for 43. Nathan McCullum had 2 for 23 with his
off spin and come back Vettori had one for 16. The sun was out and it
was nice and cool when the two captains Angelo Mathews and Brendon
McCullum walked out to toss. Mathews saw the coin spin his way and quite
rightly decided to have first go. The Lankans were returning to
territory they would not like to.
It was here then known as the SwAlec Stadium in Cardiff that they
gifted England an innings victory after rain, in a game that they could
well have drawn.
History now
Anyway that is history now and the Lankans must be looking to forget
that disaster, make amends by chalking up a victory against New Zealand
in the ICC Champions Trophy game and keep their thirst for the Trophy on
course.
When the Sri Lanka team was announced it was surprising to note the
omission of Nuwan Kulesekera. Kulesekea was the leader of the bowling
pack but the Selectors preferred to let loose Shaminda Eranga. The
selectors also tossed in Rangana Herath for Sachitra Senanayake.
Former Captain and bowling all rounder the wily left arm spinner
Daniel Vettori was s playing in a one-day international for the Kiwis
after two years.
Vettori is determined to make an impression.
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Sunday.
SCORECARD
Sri Lanka
K. Perera c B. McCullum b Mills 00
T. Dilshan b McClenaghan 20
K. Sangakkara c Williamson b N. McCullum 68
M. Jayawardene lbw b Vettori 04
D. Chandimal c Ronchi b Mills 00
A. Mathews b McClenaghan 09
L. Thirimanne run out 09
T. Perera c Vettori b McClenaghan 15
R. Herath not out 08
S. Eranga c Mills b N. McCullum 00
L. Malinga c Taylor b McClenaghan 02
Extras: (lb1, w2) 03
Total (all out, 37.5 overs) 138
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (K. Perera), 2-27 (Dilshan), 3-33 (Jayawardene)
4-34 (Chandimal), 5-65 (Mathews), 6-82 (Thirimanne)
7-118 (T. Perera), 8-135 (Sangakkara), 9-135 (Eranga)
10-138 (Malinga)
Bowling: Mills 6-0-14-2
McClenaghan 8.5-0-43-4 (w1)
Vettori 6-1-16-1
Southee 7-1-25-0 (w1)
N. McCullum 8-0-23-2
Williamson 2-0-16-0
New Zealand
M. Guptill c Jayawardene b Eranga 25
L. Ronchi c Sangakkara b Eranga 07
K. Williamson lbw b Malinga 16
R. Taylor lbw b Herath 00
J. Franklin lbw b Dilshan 06
B. McCullum b Malinga 18
D. Vettori lbw b Malinga 05
N. McCullum lbw b Malinga 32
T. Southee not out 13
K. Mills run out 03
M. McClenaghan not out 01
Extras: (lbn8, w5) 13
Total (for nine wickets, 36.3 overs) 139
Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Ronchi), 2-48 (Williamson), 3-49 (Taylor)
4-49 (Guptill), 5-70 (Franklin), 6-80 (Vettori)
7-115 (B. McCullum), 8-122 (N. McCullum), 9-134 (Mills)
Bowling: Malinga 10-2-34-4 (w2)
Eranga 8-0-45-2 (w1)
Herath 10-0-36-1
Dilshan 6.3-1-12-1 (w2)
T. Perera 2-0-4-0
New Zealand won by one wicket Toss: Sri Lanka Umpires: Rod Tucker (AUS) and Bruce Oxenford (AUS) TV umpire: Ian Gould (ENG) |
