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| December 29, 2006 | Friday | Zilhaj 07, 1427 |
Jayasuriya cuts loose as Sri Lanka thump New Zealand
NAPIER (New Zealand), Dec 28: A blistering century by veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya propelled Sri Lanka to an easy seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening One-day International here on Thursday.
Jayasuriya hit 111 from just 82 balls as Sri Lanka overhauled New Zealand's respectable 285-8 – including an undefeated 128 from rookie Ross Taylor – with 10 overs to spare on an ideal batting surface at McLean Park.
Jayasuriya and fellow opener Upul Tharanga plundered the wayward attack, smashing 90 runs from the first 10 overs and hitting another 50 from the next five.
The 37-year-old Jayasuriya showed no signs of age as he hit 12 fours and five sixes in his whirlwind innings.
James Franklin dispatched both openers in consecutive balls in the 25th over, bringing to an end the 201-run partnership. Jayasuriya was caught a few steps inside the backward point boundary and Tharanga offered a nick to wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum.
But Sri Lanka's victory was all but in the bag, with skipper Mahela Jayawardene (34 not out) and Kumar Sangakkara (36) ensuring the victory.
The absence of the home side's top bowlers, including star speedster Shane Bond who was being rested, cost New Zealand dearly.
New Zealand pace bowlers Andre Adams, Michael Mason and debutant Mark Gillespie all conceded more than seven runs an over. Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, standing in as skipper for a resting Stephen Fleming, was the only bowler to emerge with his reputation intact, finishing with 1-36 from eight overs.
Taylor and veteran Nathan Astle (83) provided the backbone of the New Zealand innings in a 151-run partnership, which at one stage appeared likely to set up a huge total.
But New Zealand lost six wickets for 63 runs in the last 12 overs as the Sri Lanka's bowlers found the tight line which had eluded them earlier.
The big-hitting Taylor, playing only his third One-day International, scored his first international century off 133 balls in a masterful innings which included four sixes and 12 fours. The 22-year-old brought up his century in the 44th over and had to battle cramp as he struggled through to end of the innings.
Astle survived some shaky early overs and poor recent form to recover his swashbuckling style of old. His innings ended cruelly when bowler Jayasuriya deflected a drive from Taylor on to the stumps at the non-striker's end, leaving Astle stranded outside the crease.
The wily Chaminda Vaas with 3-50 was the pick of Sri Lanka's bowlers, taking the wickets of Vettori and James Marshall in consecutive balls to put the brakes on the New Zealand innings.
Lasith Malinga made up for a loose early spell with two late wickets for a tally of 2-66.
Scoreboard
NEW ZEALAND:
B.B. McCullum lbw b Vaas 10
N.J. Astle run out 83
R.L. Taylor not out 128
P.G. Fulton c Sangakkara b Murali 24
D.L. Vettori c Jayawardene b Vaas 5
J.A.H. Marshall lbw b Vaas 0
H.J.H. Marshall c Sangakkara b Fernando 17
J.E.C. Franklin b Malinga 2
A.R. Adams b Malinga 3
M.R. Gillespie not out 1
EXTRAS (LB-4, W-4, NB-4) 12
TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 285
FALL OF WKTS: 1-18, 2-169, 3-222, 4-229,
5-229, 6-257, 7-262, 8-280.
DID NOT BAT: M.J. Mason.
BOWLING: Vaas 10-0-50-3 (3nb, 1w); Malinga 10-0-66-2 (1nb); Fernando 5-0-43-1 (1w); Muralitharan 10-0-48-1 (2w); Jayasuriya 10-0-42-0; Dilshan 5-0-32-0.
SRI LANKA:
W.U. Tharanga c McCullum b Franklin 68
S.T. Jayasuriya c Fulton b Franklin 111
D.P.M.D. Jayawardene not out 34
K.C. Sangakkara c and b Vettori 36
M.S. Atapattu not out 7
EXTRAS (B-3, LB-3, W-12, NB-12) 30
TOTAL (for three wkts, 40 overs) 286
FALL OF WKTS: 1-201, 201-2, 3-271.
DID NOT BAT: T.M. Dilshan, L.P.C. Silva, W.P.U.J.C. Vaas, C.R.D. Fernando, S.L. Malinga, M. Muralitharan.
BOWLING: Franklin 10-0-69-2 (4nb); Mason 6-0-60-0 (1w); Gillespie 9-0-64-0 (7nb, 3w); Adams 7-0-54-0 (1w); Vettori 8-0-36-1 (1w).
RESULT: Sri Lanka won by seven wickets.
UMPIRES: A.L. Hill (New Zealand) and S.J. Davis (Australia).
TV UMPIRE: E.A. Watkin (New Zealand).
MATCH REFEREE: J. Srinath (India).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Sanath Jayasuriya.
SECOND ODI: Queenstown, Dec 31.
THIRD ODI: Christchurch, Jan 2.
FOURTH ODI: Auckland (D/N), Jan 6.
FIFTH ODI: Hamilton (D/N), Jan 9.—AFP
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