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AUCKLAND, Dec 26: Nathan Astle made an unbeaten 40 off 37 balls to guide New Zealand to a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their second Twenty20 International here on Tuesday.
Astle slammed four boundaries and a six to safely steer the Kiwis to their victory target of 116 with nine balls to spare after Sri Lanka were bowled out for 115 in the 19th over of their innings.
The two match series ended 1-1 after Sri Lanka won the first match in Wellington on Friday by 18 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis system after the game was abandoned because of rain.
James Franklin captured three early wickets and Andre Adams two as New Zealand reduced the visitors to 71-8 before Lasith Malinga (27) and Dilhara Fernando (21) combined with a late flurry to push the total past 100.
Brendon McCullum got the New Zealand innings off to a flying start when he smacked 28 at a run a ball and although Fernando claimed three quick wickets to reduce the home side to 86-5, Astle's late cameo sealed the result.
The teams, who also drew the Test series 1-1, will play each other in five one-day matches, starting at Napier on Thursday.
Scoreboard
SRI LANKA:
W.U. Tharanga b Franklin 0
C.K. Kapugedera c Franklin b Mason 12
D.P.M. Jayawardene c Patel b Franklin 9
K.C. Sangakkara c McGlashan b Adams 13
M.S. Atapattu c Fulton b Franklin 5
T.M. Dilshan run out 3
L.P.C. Silva c McGlashan b Adams 12
C.M. Bandara c Taylor b Gillespie 1
S.L. Malinga b Patel 27
C.R.D. Fernando c Adams b Astle 21
P.D.R.L. Perera not out 0
EXTRAS (LB-2, W-9, NB-1) 12
TOTAL (all out, 18.2 overs) 115
FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-24, 3-26, 4-44, 5-51, 6-58, 7-61, 8-71, 9-115.
BOWLING: Franklin 4-0-23-3 (1nb); Mason 3-0-19-1 (3w); Gillespie 3.1-0-13-1 (1w); Adams 4-0-20-2 (1w); Astle 2.5-0-30-1; Patel 1.2-0-8-1.
NEW ZEALAND:
B.B. McCullum run out 28
S.P. Fleming c Kapugedera b Fernando 17
R.L. Taylor run out 4
N.J. Astle not out 40
P.G. Fulton b Fernando 14
P.D. McGlashan c Dilshan b Fernando 2
J.E.C. Franklin not out 3
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-1, W-3) 8
TOTAL (for five wkts, 18.3 overs) 116
FALL OF WKTS: 1-51, 2-56, 3-57, 4-82, 5-86.
DID NOT BAT: A.R. Adams, M.R. Gillespie, J.S. Patel, M.J. Mason.
BOWLING: Malinga 3-0-15-0 (1w); Perera 4-0-49-0 (2w); Fernando 4-0-19-3; Dilshan 3.3-0-8-0; Bandara 4-0-20-0.
RESULT: New Zealand won by five wickets.
UMPIRES: B.F. Bowden and A.L. Hill (both New Zealand).
TV UMPIRE: G.A. Baxter (New Zealand).
MATCH REFEREE: J. Srinath (India).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: James Franklin.—Agencies
