Sri Lanka power their way to victory over Kiwis
Chris Dhambarage reporting from South Africa
CRICKET: Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday - Sri Lanka
powered their way to register their second successive victory defeating
New Zealand by seven wickets in their ICC inaugural Twenty20 World Cup
group 'C' fixture played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg
yesterday.
After restricting the opposition to 164 for 7 from their 20 overs the
Lankans reached their target in style scoring 168 for 3 with more than
an over to spare. Sri Lanka got off to a flying start with the openers
Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga bringing up the fifty runs from just
4.4 overs. The pair launched a massive assault on the New Zealand
bowlers and added 82 runs in 7.3 overs.
Tharanga departed for a well compiled 37 from 25 balls with two sixes
and two fours. But Jayasuriya continued with his excellent form in this
tournament with another half century that set the pace for an easy
victory. The dashing left-hander hammered 61 from 43 deliveries with the
help of three sixes and half a dozen boundaries.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardena then added the finishing touches with an
undefeated 35 runs from 18 balls which included one six and four fours.
He was also associated in a third wicket stand of 50 runs in 28 balls
with Sanath Jayasuriya.
Earlier Ross Taylor hit a top score of 62 off 42 balls with three
sixes to help New Zealand reach 165-7 after they had won the toss and
elected to bat first. Taylor and Fulton rescued New Zealand following a
disappointing start after Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando had varied
their pace beautifully to keep the runs down in the initial stages of
the game. In fact the seasoned campaigner Chaminda Vaas sent down his
four overs on the trot with tremendous control and accuracy.
But the initial damage was done by seamer Dilhara Fernando who picked
up two wickets in successive overs to push the Kiwis on the defensive.
Lasith Malinga who was introduced into the attack in the 13th over made
run making even more difficult for the opposition. Sanath Jayasuriya
also struck early and got rid off the dangerous Scott Styris when the
batsman had attempted for a reverse sweep. The Lankans had the game
under control at this stage with New Zealand struggling to reach 80 for
2 at the half way stage of the innings.
However New Zealand recovered through a third wicket stand of 69 runs
between Fulton and Taylor. They reached their one hundred in the 13th
over with Taylor completing his half century in 30 balls with three
sixes and two fours.
New Zealand further consolidated their position during the latter
stages of the innings through a sixth wicket stand of 50 runs in 34
balls between Taylor and Jacob Oram. The latter added the finishing
touches remaining unbeaten on 33 from 19 balls with two fours and two
sixes.
NEW ZEALAND
B. McCullum c Malinga b Fernando 10
L. Vincent c Silva b Fernando 14
P. Fulton c Malinga b Wijekoon 25
R. Taylor c Sangakkara b Malinga 62
S. Styris lbw b Jayasuriya 2
C. McMillan run out 2
J. Oram not out 33
D. Vettori run out 3
Extras (b1, lb2, w10) 13
TOTAL (for seven wickets) 164
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-22 (McCullum), 2-25 (Vincent), 3-95 (Fulton),
4-97 (Styris), 5-102 (McMillan), 6-153 (Taylor), 7-164 (Vettori).
BOWLING: Vaas 4-0-27-0, Fernando 4-0-30-2 (w2),
Jayasuriya 4-0-25-1, Wijekoon 4-0-50-1 (w2), Malinga 4-0-29-1 (w1)
OVERS: 20
SRI LANKA
U. Tharanga c Martin b Vettori 37
S. Jayasuriya c Fulton b Vettori 61
K. Sangakkara c Taylor b Styris 14
M. Jayawardene not out 35
C. Silva not out 9
Extras (b3, lb8, w1) 12
TOTAL (for three wickets) 168
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-82 (Tharanga), 2-108 (Sangakkara), 3-158 (Jayasuriya).
BOWLING: Bond 4-0-45-0, Martin 3-0-23-0, Gillespie 2.5-0-29-0 (w1),
Vettori 4-0-23-2, Styris 3-0-16-1, Oram 2-0-21-0
OVERS: 18.5
Sri Lanka won by seven wickets
Umpires: Darryl Harper (AUS) and Mark Benson (ENG)
Third umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG).
The Group 'C' Points Table.
Group C
Team Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Net RR
Sri Lanka 2 2 0 0 0 4 +4.721
New Zealand 2 1 1 0 0 2 +2.396
Kenya 2 0 2 0 0 0 -8.047 |
