New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka: Black Caps bowled out for 217 – First semi-final, ICC World Cup 2011
New Zealand were dismissed for 217 runs in the first semi-final of the ICC World Cup 2011 against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo in Sri Lanka.
The Kiwis will look to defend their total and advance to a World Cup final for the first time in history.
Kiwi captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bat first. The wicket did not have much pace and bounce in it, but there was some assistance for the spinners. The Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara was not bothered about the toss, as his team won
chasing against England in a quarter-final match at the same venue.
Kiwi openers Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill started the innings with confidence, but the wicketkeeper batsman got out after scoring 13 runs off 21 balls. His short innings included one four and a six.
First-drop batsman Jesse Ryder found it hard to time the ball and he was sent back to the pavilion after adding just 19 runs to the total. He was followed by Guptill, who was undone by a beautiful yorker by Lasith Malinga. The opening batsman managed 39
runs off 65 balls with the help of three fours.
With three wickets down for 84, the Black Caps were struggling. However, Ross Taylor and Scott Styris steadied the ship for their team with a 77-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Just when things started to look good for the team, Taylor gave his wicket away to a short ball from Ajantha Mendis. Although the ball did not deserve a wicket, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 hit it straight to the hands of the fielder in the deep. The right-handed batsman scored
36 runs from 55 balls with the help of just one four.
Youngster Kane Williamson walked out in the middle and he lifted the run rate with some sensible hitting. He got out after scoring 22 runs off just 16 balls. The middle-order batsman smashed three fours in his cameo.
The lower middle-order of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 collapsed and the team got out with 9 balls to spare. Styris top scored the innings with a valiant knock of 57 runs off 77 balls. The veteran player struck five fours in his innings.
Lasith Malinga and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Muttiah-Muralitharan-c78157 also bowled well for his two wickets in the match.
Tags: