Rex Clementine
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7th Match: New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Colombo, 31 Jul 2001 Rex Clementine |
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Sri Lanka innings:
Pre-game: New Zealand innings: |
The Sri Lankan new ball bowlers, Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando bowled impressively as they put the early breaks on the New Zealanders.
Vaas in the first ball of his second over sent opener Matthew Sinclair who struggled against the new ball, back to the pavilion with the Kiwis on three. The batsman playing forward was trapped in front.
Two balls later, Vaas accounted for hard-hitting Jacob Oram. The batsman played defensively without much foot work at an out swinging delivery and was caught by Russell Arnold at the second slip. Oram failed to open his account.
Skipper Stephen Fleming was the next to go with New Zealand on 16. The New Zealand captain flashed at a delivery and was caught by Avishka Gunawardene at the second slip. He made six.
With New Zealand on 18 they lost Craig McMillan for a duck. Nathan Astle pushed the ball to short-mid-wicket where Mahela Jayawardene picked the ball and shattered the stumps at the noon-striker's end. McMillan backing up too far failed make it back to his crease in time.
Off the very next ball, Dilhara Fernando struck as he sent back opener Nathan Astle for four. Astle chased at a wide delivery and edged the ball straight into the hands of Avishka Gunawardene at the second slip.
At the end of the 15th over, New Zealand were 40 for five with Dion Nash on 12 and Chris Harris on six. Nash is the only batsman to have gone past the double figures.
Jayawardene batting at number five made a brilliant 58 in 53 minutes and 46 balls. He hit four boundaries and two sixes and put up 56 runs in 56 balls for the fourth wicket with Marvan Atapattu and another 43 runs in 34 balls for the fifth wicket with Russell Arnold.
Between the 15th and the 36th over Sri Lanka lost five wickets and scored 134 runs. In that period the first batsman to go was Romesh Kaluwitharana. Kalu played a little cameo of 25 before he was needlessly run out. The batsman worked the ball to the extra cover region and scampered for a single where the tall Jacob Oram returned the ball in time to Chris Harris at the non-striker's end to dislodge the bails. The decision was referred to the third umpire who ruled Kalu out. His 25 came in 47 minutes and 36 balls with two boundaries.
The next to go was the hard hitting Gunawardene; a 11th hour inclusion in place of Kumar Sangakkara as the game was reduced to 36 overs. Gunawardane, who was going well, hit the ball high in the air giving Matthew Sinclair at mid off ample time to take an easy catch. Gunawardene made 38 in 86 minutes and 51 balls with three fours.
Sri Lanka’s 150 runs came in the 28th over of the match in 111 minutes with Atapattu and Jayawardene at the midde.
Sri Lanka would have lost Atapattu with their score on 152 and the batsman on 27. The right-hander pulled a Dion Nash delivery and Craig McMillan fielding at short mid-wicket dived at the ball but couldn’t take the difficult chance.
However, the batsman departed having added another nine runs stumped by Adam Parore off the bowling of Daniel Vettori. Atapattu having hit a huge six over the head of long off two deliveries earlier was stumped when he tried a similar shot off the same bowler. He made 34 in 39 balls in 46 minutes with a four and a six.
Jayawardane's innings ended when the batsman went for a big hit off Craig McMillan and was caught by Dion Nash with Sri Lanka on 208.
Suresh Perera came in next and faced just four balls before he was bowled by McMillan for one. McMillan ended up picking up two wickets for 17 runs.
Russell Arnold too contributed with an unbeaten 22.
Sri Lanka opted for the opening combination of the left handed, hard-hitting duo of Sanath Jayasuriya and Avishka Gunawardene. The latter came in for this game replacing Kumar Sangakkara.
Jayasuriya went after both Darryl Tuffey and Kyle Millis from the very first over. He hit four fours in style driving and pulling over the infield. The Lankan skipper made 20 in 22 balls and 24 minutes.
Jayasuriya’s innings ended when he became a victim to the trap set by skipper Fleming. Kyle Mills bowled with a short fine leg and Jayasuriya working the ball on the on side hit the ball straight into the hands of the fielder in that position. The Sri Lankan captain started a long walk back to the pavilion with the score on 32.
Romesh Kaluwitharana walked into join Gunawardene at the fall of Jayasuriya's wicket and the pair took the Sri Lankan score past the 50 mark in 36 minutes and 48 balls.
By the end of the 10th over, when the fielding restrictions ended, Sri Lanka had moved up to 60 for one.
Sri Lanka have brought in hard hitting southpaw Avishka Gunawardene in place of Kumar Sangakkara who played the last game against India. For the CLEAR Black Caps Lou Vincent makes way for captain Stephen Fleming who has recovered from stomach trouble.
For the first time in the tournament, the cricket moves out of the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, which hosted the first six matches. The Sinhalese Sports Club today hosts its forst game of the tournament.
The teams: Sri Lanka: * ST Jayasuriya, DA Gunawardane, RS Kaluwitharana, MS Atapattu, DPMD Jayawardene, RP Arnold, ASA Perera, WPUJC Vaas, HDPK Dharmasena, M Muralitharan, CRD Fernando.
New Zealand: MS Sinclair, NJ Astle, *SP Fleming, CD McMillan, CZ Harris, +AC Parore, JDP Oram, DJ Nash, DL Vettori, KD Mills, DR Tuffey.
The umpires revealed that a decision about the possible start of play will be taken only after the covers are removed.
This is the first match of the tournament played at the SSC. The first six matches were played at the R Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka lead the points table with six point while New Zealand are in the second place with four points. India are languishing at the bottom of the table with two points.
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 31 Jul2001 - 18:25