Sri Lanka maul New Zealand in tri-series opener

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: September 9, 2009

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Colombo: Sri Lanka thrashed New Zealand in the first match of the Compaq Cup tri-series by 97 runs to secure their first points in the tournament. The Lankans were led by a batting master class by Thilan Samaraweera and then Lasith Malinga wrecked havoc and cleaned up the Kiwi middle order to give Sri Lanka a comprehensive win.

Thilan Samaraweera (104) scored his first one day international century to take the hosts to a total of 216 for 7. Defending a modest total, Sri Lankan bowlers put in a brilliant display with Lasith Malinga being the chief destroyer picking up 4 for 28 in 6.1 overs. Sri Lanka earned a bonus point for their comprehensive win and that may prove to be crucial considering that it is a very short tournament.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first on a slow and low wicket. And they were in trouble right from the beginning losing the in-form Dilshan in the very first over. He was clean bowled by Tuffey for just 4. The downslide continued as wickets kept falling regularly and the Lankans found themselves struggling at 69-5 in 25.3 overs.

That’s when the pair of Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Matthews came together. They put on a 6^th wicket stand of 127 runs to pull Sri Lanka out of the pit. Angelo Matthews made a brilliant 51 off just 60 balls which included four boundaries. He was eventually dismissed with Sri Lanka at 196-6 in the 48^th over.

But, the star of the day was Thilan Samaraweera. Coming on the back of some brilliant performances in the test series, Samaraweera continued his purple patch with a masterful innings of 104 off 124 balls which included 10 boundaries. He was dismissed in the 49^th over as he missed a straight delivery from Ian Butler and saw his stumps get rattled. Shane Bond, on his return to ODI cricket, was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand with figures of 3 for 43.

Chasing 217 to win, New Zealand never really got going in their innings. They were bowled out for a humiliating 119 with Grant Elliot being the only batsman to put up any sort of resistance. He made 41 off 76 balls and tried to stay at the crease. Ian Butler came in at the end to make 25 off 38 balls but the game was already over by then.

For Sri Lanka, every bowler chipped in but it was Lasith Malinga who hurt New Zealand the most. He dismissed Brendan McCullum, Jacob Oram and Nathan McCullum in the same over to leave New Zealand tottering at 41-6 and almost put them out of the game.

Malinga was ably supported by the No.1 bowler in ODI rankings, Nuwan Kulasekara. He finished with figures of 2 for 18 off his 6 overs. Thilan Thushanra, too, bowled a brilliant spell at the start of the innings. He didn’t give the New Zealand batsman any opportunities to get away as his figures suggest. He ended with figures of 6-1-5-1.

Vettori now has a few days to raise his players’ morale. It will be difficult after such a comprehensive defeat, especially against India. New Zealand’s next game – and potentially last – game is on Friday. They can, at best, hope to look forward to a new pitch!

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 216 for 7 (Samaraweera 104, Mathews 51, Bond 3-43) beat New Zealand 119 (Elliott 41, Malinga 4-28) by 97 runs

Man of the Match: Thilan Samaraweera

Tagged with: Angelo Matthews, Brendan McCullum, Colombo, Daniel Vettori, Grant Elliot, Ian Butler, Jacob Oram, Lasith Malinga, Nathan McCullum, New Zealand, Nuwan Kulasekara, Shane Bond, Sri Lanka, Thilan Samaraweera, Thilan Thushara, Tillakaratne Dilshan

Sri Lanka maul New Zealand in tri-series opener

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