Lankans score docile 7wicket win over Kiwis; stay in hunt for semis

Mumbai, Oct 20 (UNI) Opener Upal Tharanga (56) continued his rich form as he, along with his captain Mahela Jayawardene (48), put on 89 runs for the second wicket to power Sri Lanka to a huge seven-wicket win over New Zealand in their Group 'B' match of the ICC Champions Trophy played at the Brabourne stadium here today.

Set a not so daunting 166 run victory target, Sri Lanka reached the total making 166 for three in just 36 overs with seven wickets in hand. Both the teams now have a win and a loss from the two matches they have played so far and are still in the contention for a semi-final berth from Group 'B'.

Chasing the small victory target of 166 runs, Sri Lanka were given an explosive start by Sanath Jaysuriya and were also helped by some wayward bowling early on by the Kiwis, especially their strike bowler Shane Bond who had to be taken off after giving away 32 runs in his first four overs. Bond, making a comeback after an injury, was all over the place bowling one wide and two no balls in his first over.

One no ball was called for hurling a beamer at Upul Tharanga.

Jayasuriya really exploded in Bond's second over and the fourth of the innings when he hit the tall strapping pace bowler for a six over the covers. In the same over, Jayasuriya executed super square cut which went racing to the point boundary for another four.

Tharanga then joined in the fun, hitting Bond for two more boundaries, albeit one a streaky one past his leg stump to the fine leg fence.

However, Mills stuck in the next over when Jayasuriya trying to cut him got an underedge through to the keeper Brendon McCullum.

Jayasuriya made a rapid-fire 20 inclusive of two boundaries and a six with the team score on 45 for one.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene then joined Upul Tharanga and the two continued to dominate the bowling on a wicket which, though slow, could be taken for runs. The Lankan attack on the pace bowlers was so severe that Fleming had to turn to his prime spinner Daniel Vettori. However, even as Tharanga was going strong at the other end, Jayawardene showed how to bat and bat attractively for that matter, executing a few delectable late cuts.

The Lankans, who know how to play spinners, showed how to negotiate this low and slow track with the odd delivery keeping low.

Jayawardene played late, seeing first what the ball was doing and then committed his shot.

Tharanga, at the other end, also continued his fine run of form, beginning with a boundary and reached a well deserved 50 off just 69 balls with nine hits to the fence.

However, just when it seemed the duo would take Sri Lanka home, Jeetan Patel struck twice in one over to delay the inevitable. First Mahela Jayawardene holed out to long off where Vettori made no mistake. Jayawardene fell two short of his 50 making 48. Three balls later, Tharanga was also back in the pavillion being beaten in flight by Patel for Brendon McCullum to finish off an easy stumping.

Kumar Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu then applied themselves and took the Lankans home without further loss.

Jeetan Patel with two for 32 in nine overs was once again the pick of the New Zealand bowlers.

Earlier in the afternoon, ace off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (four for 23) and Sanath Jayasuriya (2-26) spun a web around the New Zealand batsmen restricting them to 165 all out in 49.2 overs. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, New Zealand were soon in big trouble when their captain and hero of their win against South Africa, Stephen Fleming, missed the line from a delivery of Chaminda Vaas and was caught right in front, shuffling across his stumps.

Fleming faced 11 balls without opening his account.

Lou Vincent and Hamish Marshall also left soon after for 13 and fouir respectively with the score reading three for 56 in the 16th over.

Nathan Astle, at the other end, was batting beautifully, flicking Malinga to the square leg boundary and then driving Maharoof for another boundary.

However, on a wicket which was getting slower and slower and shot making was proving to be difficult, the spinners, who were brought in the 21st over, did the job for their captain with Muralitharan getting the prized wicket of Astle for 42 sweeping straight into the hands of the deep square leg fielder Malinga. Astle's knock came in a stay of 74 balls and was studded with five boundaries.

New Zealand, who were 118 for nine at one stage, were given a fighting total by Vettori who top scored with 46 from just 53 balls with five hits to the fence.

Jeetan Patel, who put on a valuable 47-run last wicket partnership, helped push the total past the 150 mark.

UNI