New Zealand takes revenge, sweeps the series 2-0

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: September 5, 2009

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Colombo: New Zealand were beaten badly in the test series by Sri Lanka but they would be heading into the tri-series featuring them along with India and Sri Lanka full of confidence as they beat Sri Lanka for the second consecutive match to sweep the Twenty20 series 2-0.

The Kiwis, who won the first match on Wednesday by three runs, amassed 170-4 after winning the toss and then restricted the World Twenty20 finalists to 148-8 at the Premadasa stadium to clinch a victory by 22-runs. Returning fast bowler Shane Bond led the Black Caps charge with brilliant bowling figures of 3-18 in four overs, while seamer Kyle Mills and off-spinner Nathan McCullum claimed two wickets each.

Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat, the Kiwis were given an explosive opening stand by Brendan McCullum and Jesse Ryder. They added 84 runs in 10.4 overs with the left hander Ryder smashing three sixes and as many fours in his 37-ball innings of 52. McCullum hit a 34-ball 49 with two sixes and four boundaries.

Martin Guptill (32) and Jacob Oram (17*) further boosted the total with a 43-run stand for the fourth wicket in 27 balls, before Guptill was bowled by Lasith Malinga off the final ball of the innings. Sanath Jayasuriya was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka with figures of 2-22 off his 4 overs.

Sri Lanka, chasing a target of almost nine runs an over, got off to the worst possible start when they were reduced to 2-2 off the first seven deliveries and slid to 11-3 soon after. Bond removed the in-form Tillakaratne Dilshan with his fifth ball, caught at deep square leg, before Kyle Mills dismissed Mahela Udawatte and Sanath Jayasuriya in successive overs.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara (69) and former captain Mahela Jayawardene (41) put on a brisk 67 for the fourth wicket when Nathan McCullum hit back with two wickets in his first over. Sangakkara then gave Jacob Oram a return catch after making 69 before Bond sealed New Zealand’s win with the wickets of all-rounder Gihan Rupasinghe and tailender Nuwan Kulasekara.

Brief Scores:

New Zealand 170 for 4 (Ryder 52, McCullum 49) beat Sri Lanka (Sangakkara 69, Jayawardene 41, Bond 3-18, Nathan McCullum 2-18 ) by 22 runs

Man of the Match: Jesse Ryder

Man of the Series: Jesse Ryder

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