Sri Lanka complete a whitewash despite Vettori ton

By Rahul Bajaj
for Cricketain.com

Published: August 31, 2009

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Colombo: Sri Lanka moved to the second spot behind South Africa in the official rankings as they beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the final Test on Sunday to sweep the series 2-0.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath claimed five wickets as the Kiwis, set an improbable victory target of 494 runs, were bowled out for 397 in their second innings just before tea on the fifth day.

“It’s a great achievement to be number two,” said Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara. “But a Test is a test when it is played against tougher opponents. We have a long way to go to improve in all forms of the game.”

“I think at the moment we are scratching the surface. If we perform consistently in the next two to three years, we can turn back and say we have done well. Herath was incredible today, bowling about 50 overs in the hot weather. He is a good companion for Muralitharan because he takes the pressure off him,” said the Sri Lankan captain.

The success leaves Sangakkara with four wins in five matches as captain since taking over from Mahela Jayawardene in the preceding home series against Pakistan.

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori tried his best but couldn’t avoid the defeat which was pretty much inevitable after they were set a target of 494. Vettori put in a spirited batting performance making 140, his fourth test century, as he led a lower order revival after the top order failed to put up any resistance.

“To score 400 in the fourth innings was pleasing but it is still disappointing to lose the match,” he said. “Some more runs from the guys at the top could have taken the game the full distance.”

The left-hander frustrated the Sri Lankans for more than four hours in which he faced 189 deliveries and hit 16 boundaries before he was last man to be dismissed. Vettori scored 272 runs and picked up 10 wickets in the series, and in the process became only the eighth batsman in history to achieve the double of 3,000 runs and 300 wickets.

“We have got the talent but we are not turning that talent into big scores. I think we have been guilty of trying to force the pace too much, instead of just trying to bat on and on like the Sri Lankans. The key was to put up a fight but we were not able to do that in the series,” he said.

Vettori hoped for a better showing in the two Twenty20 internationals against Sri Lanka on Wednesday and Friday and the tri-series featuring India starting on September 8.

“I think there is a confidence in our side in the shorter format of the game, so hopefully we will see a turnaround in the team’s fortunes,” he said.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 416 (Samaraweera 143, Jayawardene 92, Patel 4-78) and 311 for 5 dec (Sangakkara 109, Jayawardene 96) beat New Zealand 234 (Taylor 81, Herath 3-70, Muralitharan 3-71) and 397 (Vettori 140, Oram 56, Herath 5-139) by 96 runs

Man of the Match: Mahela Jayawardene

Man of the Series: Thilan Samaraweera

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