New Zealand set Sri Lanka competitive total in World Cup semi-final at Premadasa stadium
NZ 217 all out in 50 overs
New Zealand has put up a fighting total in the first semi-final of the cricket World Cup being played at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and opted to bat first in good playing conditions at the venue. The tourists got off to a steady start, yet were pushed in a difficult situation every time they went on the aggression losing wickets at regular
intervals.
Brendon McCullum was the first one to fall: he was bowled by Rangana Herath as he attempted a heave across the line. The Black Caps were given a steady platform through a partnership between Martin Guptill and Jesse Ryder.
The second wicket to fall was that of Ryder who was sent packing by Muttiah Muralitheran after scoring 19 runs off 34 balls.
The third wicket to fall was that off Guptill: the big-hitter was yorked by a Lasith Malinga special that went through the defences of the right hander.
Scott Styris and Ross Taylor added 77 runs for the fourth wicket, the two experienced batsmen went about the task of scoring runs at a comfortable pace. However, they failed to break the shackles in their bid of accelerating the scoring rate.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajantha-c42419 Mendis with Upul Tharanga taking a catch positioned at deep mid-wicket, his innings off 36 included a single boundary.
Kane Williamson scored some big boundaries in the power play overs, he was set for a big contribution yet the quality in the Sri Lankan bowling attack put a check on him.
Malinga trapped him leg before wicket; soon after Nathan McCullum was sent packing while the big blow for the Black Caps was the dismissal of Styris who was trapped lbw in Muralitharan’s last over in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758. Styris top scored with 57 off 77 balls; his
innings was studded with 5 fours.
The New Zealanders will have a tough task at their hands as they bid to strangle the hosts and reach the first World Cup final of their history.
The biggest challenge for them would be to dislodge the opening pair of the hosts who have amassed two double century stands in the tournament thus far.
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