New Zealand grab a narrow win against Sri Lanka in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Champions Trophy – Cricket News
New Zealand registered a narrow win by just one wicket against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in their ICC champions trophy league match on Sunday, at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
Sri Lanka, who chose to bat first after winning the toss, were put on the back foot early on when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KD-Mills-c1781 dismissed Kusal Perera for nil on the first delivery of the match.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779 then tried to forge a mature partnership but could take the score to only 27, before Dilshan became the next batsman to find his way off the field after losing his wicket
to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mitchell-McClenaghan-c1975 for 20 off 18.
With the top two batsmen back in the pavilion, Sri Lanka needed to regroup in the middle to halt New Zealand’s bowling onslaught.
However, the Kiwis were on fire as they nabbed their third wicket of the day on the departure of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DL-Vettori-c1384 with only four runs to his name. At the
time of this wicket, the Sri Lankans were on 33 runs.
A run later, the Lankans lost another wicket as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 as the Sri Lankans desperately tried to avert a shockingly disappointing
end to their innings.
This pair led the side towards 65 runs before Mathews lost his wicket to McClenaghan after scoring nine runs.
With Sangakkara as their best batsman for his 68-run knock, the Sri Lankans were bowled out in 37.5 overs for 138.
McClenaghan was the ace bowler from New Zealand with four wickets to his name.
The target should have been a piece of cake for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540, who took four wickets in the match.
Beginning their run chase, New Zealand openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Guptill-c1980 and Luke Ronchi gave their side a stand of 14 runs, before Ronchi lost his wicket with seven runs to his name.
Guptill and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KS-Williamson-c1813 crafted a potent partnership as they took the score to 48, before the departure of Williamson, who perished after hitting 16 runs.
Losing wickets regularly maintain immense pressure on the batting side, however, Nathan McCullum’s 32-run knock saved the day as New Zealand reached the target in 36.3 overs. McCullum was later named the Player
of the Match.
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