Muralitharan, Jayasuriya hasten Kiwi downfall

Mumbai, Oct 20 (UNI) Ace off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan spun a web around the New Zealand batsmen taking four for 23 runs to restrict the Black Caps to a total of 165 all out in 49.2 overs in their Group 'B' match of the ICC Champions Trophy being played at the Brabourne stadium here today.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, the New Zealanders had no answer to the spin twins Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya as they collapsed to 165 all out.

Sri Lanka, for whom this is a must win match after having lost their first match to Pakistan to stay alive for a place in the semis, now require to score at just above three runs per over to notch up their first victory.

Batting first, 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 four 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 on 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, brought on 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.

At the end, Daniel Vettori with 46 not out proved to be the top scorer and along with Jeetan Patel added 47 runs for the last wicket to give some respectibilty to their score.

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