New Zealand beats Sri Lanka by one wicket

New Zealand yesterday beat Sri Lanka by one wicket in a thrilling contest in Group A match in the ICC Champions Trophy at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

After winning the toss Sri Lanka opted to bat first but failed to put a respectable score as they were bowled out for 138 in 37.5 overs.

Kumar Sangakkara was the highest scorer with 68 off 87 balls with eight 4s. T. Dilshan scored 20 whilst Thisara Perera chipped in with 15 runs.

Kushal Perera was out in the first ball of Sri Lanka’s innings whilst Captain Angelo Mathews, Vice Captain Dinesh Chandimal, Mahela Jayawardena, and Lahiru Thirimanne all got out below double figures. At one stage Sri Lanka was six down for 82 runs.

For Kiwis, Mitchell McClenaghan bowled best taking 4 for 43 whilst K.D. Mills took 2 for 14 and Nathan McCullum took a couple for 28 runs.

New Zealand also struggled during their innings and they were also down six wickets with 80 runs on the board.

Kiwis inched their way to victory after losing 9 wickets and by 36.3 overs.

Man of the Match Nathan McCullum top scored with 32 in addition to putting a valuable 35 run partnership with brother and Captain Brendon who scored 18. Opener Martin Guptil scored 25 whilst Tim Southee remained unbeaten at 13.

Lasith Malinga was the key destroyer taking 4 wickets for 34 runs whilst Shaminda Eranga took two wickets. Dilshan and Herath took a wicket each.

In post match comments, Mathews said: “We probably needed 30-40 more runs. This was not the 200-run wicket that we originally though, but we need to toughen up a bit. The wicket dried up a little during the game. I had confidence in my bowlers, we didn’t need more spinners. Dilshan bowled very well and Malinga almost won it for us. We have two more games and we need to tighten up on the batting side, but the bowlers and fielders showed good character.”

Winning Kiwi Captain Brendon McCullum said: “I am happy, though incredibly nervous at one stage. Sri Lanka are always a dangerous side and we panicked a bit in the middle. They have excellent bowlers in the ranks and the ball started stopping a bit in the second innings. It is very important to scrap through, we have enough experience to deal with situations like this, although it did get tough towards the end. But I thought we played well for the majority of the games. Our bowlers were the reason that we won the game today.”

England and New Zealand lead the Group A table whilst Australia and Sri Lanka have lost their first matches. Today’s match will be between Pakistan and South Africa contesting within Group B whilst Sri Lanka’s next match is on Thursday with England. Australia and New Zealand will meet on Wednesday and India and West Indies on Tuesday.