Jayasuriya turns back clock with brilliant 70

SYDNEY, Jan 6 (Reuters) Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara smashed half-centuries to help Sri Lanka reach an impressive total of 262 for six in the fourth one-day international against New Zealand in Auckland today.

Jayasuriya rolled back the years with a dashing 70 off just 44 deliveries while Sangakkara rebuilt the innings with a sturdy 79 from 103 deliveries after New Zealand seamer Mark Gillespie snared the first three wickets.

Jayasuriya slammed seven fours and five sixes as Sri Lanka raced to 102 for no wicket after just 15 overs but was the first man out, caught by Michael Mason, to trigger a minor collapse.

Gillespie captured his second wicket two balls later when he dismissed Sri Lanka captain Mahele Jayawardene for a duck, caught by New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming, who was making his first appearance in the series resting for the first three games.

Gillespie bowled Jayasuriya's opening partner Upul Tharanga for 22 to leave the tourists on 103 for three and needing to start all over again.

Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu steadied the innings with a 91-run partnership for the fourth wicket before hitting out in the final 10 overs.

Atapattu fell to Andre Adams for 34 off 99 balls and Sangakkara, whose knock featured eight fours and a six, mistimed a shot off Shane Bond to give the New Zealand paceman the first of his two wickets.

Sri Lanka won the opening match of the five-game series but need victory in Auckland to keep the series alive after New Zealand won the second and third games.

Reuters PM GC1110