May 14, 2003	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 11, 1424

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DAMBULLA (Sri Lanka), May 13: Romesh Kaluwitharana capitalised on his bowlers’ efforts with a vital 48 on a difficult pitch to lead Sri Lanka to a five-wicket win over New Zealand in the triangular series match here on Tuesday.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (3-16) and fast bowler Prabath Nissanka (2-11) helped Sri Lanka restrict New Zealand to 139 in a match reduced to 46-overs-a-side due to morning showers.

Kaluwitharana then ensured that his bowlers’ splendid work did not go to waste as he smashed four boundaries to help his team win with 14 balls to spare on a seamer-friendly track.

He put on 68 for the opening wicket with Sanath Jayasuriya (33) to put his team on course for victory.

Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka each have so far posted one win in two matches.

New Zealand fought back remarkably and made Sri Lanka struggle for runs in the closing overs as seamer Jacob Oram posed the main threat with a three-wicket burst. But his effort came too late to save his team.

Sri Lanka slipped from 116-2 to 120-5, but Tillekeratne Dilshan eased the pressure with four successive fours off fast bowler Daryl Tuffey.

Chaminda Vaas finished the match in fading light with the winning four off Scott Styris.

Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu won an important toss in overcast conditions and had no hesitation in putting the opposition in to bat.

His decision produced instant results as Nissanka exploited early dampness on the track to rock the New Zealand top order with two wickets.

“I think the toss was the turning point of the match. He won an important toss,” said New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming.

Muralitharan then saw to it that New Zealand did not recover from early setbacks as he kept the batsmen silent during his tight 8.1 overs.

Atapattu then promoted middle-order batsman Kaluwitharana to open the innings and his move again clicked as the opener emerged the top-scorer of the match.

“He (Kaluwitharana) played really well as batting was difficult on this pitch. We needed victory in this match,” said Atapattu.

New Zealand were in a wicket-taking situation after having made a modest total but failed to get early breakthroughs in the absence of fast bowler Shane Bond, ruled out of the game because of a back strain.

Lou Vincent top-scored with 32 in a dismal New Zealand batting performance. Chris Harris and Oram each contributed 20, but their efforts failed to put their team in a strong position.

Nissanka, fined and reprimanded for dissent in the previous match against Pakistan, hardly had to look at the umpire for his first success as he dismissed Fleming with his fourth delivery.

Nissanka then bowled an eventful two-wicket over to reduce New Zealand to 18-3.

Atapattu ran Chris Nevin out with a direct-hit to the striker’s end from short cover and, two balls later, Nissanka had Styris caught by Sangakkara.

Chris Cairns (14) cracked two fours before offering a return catch to debutant seamer Dharshana Gamage.

The batting became a bit easier when the moisture dried up in the afternoon, but New Zealand still found it difficult to score off Muralitharan and fell short of a competitive total.