Sri Lanka too good for NZ

Sri Lanka eased their way to victory over New Zealand today after a clinical and professional performance with the bat and the ball.

New Zealand went into the match heavy favourites after not having lost a game the entire tournament and looking the goods. Sri Lanka were looking shaky and with star bowler Lasith Malinga out, the signs were ominous.

New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat and got off to the worst possible start with the always deadly Chaminda Vaas striking in the first over, removing captain Stephen Fleming for a duck, an arguable LBW decision given out by Asad Rauf.

Things got worse for New Zealand just a couple of overs later when the danger man Vaas had the new batsman in, Ross Taylor out for a duck. It what was one of the best keeping displays of the tournament; wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara taking a spectacular catch leaving the New Zealand top order in tatters at 4-2.

New Zealand then began the slow and painful task of rebuilding their innings and it wasn’t till nearly the 20th over when Vaas had his next man out, Peter Fulton who went for a streaky 28.

At the other end, the man that will make a solid claim for man of the tournament, come the end of the World Cup, played as sensible and mature an innings you are likely to see.

It was a magnificent innings that was overshadowed by the failures of his team-mates. And fail they did. McMillan only lasted seven balls for his one run and Oram was gone for 31 after hitting it to Maharoof at long-on.

McCullum didn’t deliver, lasting all of two balls and Vettori wasn?t much better only adding five to the scoreboard.

Only Franklin was able to offer any support to Styris at the other end, putting up and admirable 25 off 27 balls to take the team score to 219. A score that was never going to be enough against the seasoned campaigners, Sri Lanka.

Full credit must go to the Sri Lankan bowlers. Vaas and Muralitharan were at their irresistible best, taking three wickets each and leading from the front for the entire innings. The fact that Sri Lanka were able to bowl so
well without Malinga is a testament to their depth and talent.

The chase was composed and measured and Sri Lanka were never in doubt. Tharanga was out early on when Bond took a stunning catch on the boundary but a second wicket partnership of 100 all but ended the game for the Back
Caps.

Sanath Jayasuriya scored 64 and Kumar Sangakkara made an impressive 69 not out in a steady and textbook run chase. Vettori managed two late wickets but it was too little, too late as Jayawardene with 15, Silva with 23 and Dilshan with 14 not out carried the Sri Lankans to an impressive six wicket victory with 29 balls remaining.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene was full of praise for his men in the post-match interview.

“It’s always a challenge to play New Zealand and we’ve played each other a few times, but Chaminda Vaas started us off really well,” he said.

“The spinners kept it going in the middle overs, but we bowled well to keep them down to 220. Then, we batted sensibly by not losing too many early wickets.”

There is now little respite for New Zealand, they next face heavyweights South Africa who have just come off a comprehensive victory over West Indies. Sri Lanka have a few days off before meeting Australia next week.

New Zealand 219-7 (50)
Scott Styris 111*, Jacob Oram 31, Peter Fulton 28, James Franklin 25*
Chaminda Vass 3-33, Muttiah Muralitharan 3-32

Sri Lanka 222-4 (45.1)
Kumar Sangakkara 69*, Sanath Jayasuriya 64
Daniel Vettori 2-35, Jacob Oram 1-32, James Franklin 1-49

Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets

Cricket Web Man of the Match: Chaminda Vass 3-33