New Zealand shocked Sri Lanka by 38 runs in a high-scoring match of several twists at the Wanderers on Sunday.By winning this crucial Group `B' duel, the Kiwis have kept their semifinal hopes alive in the ICC Champions Trophy. After losing its last two games, Sri Lanka will have to wait for the other results to know its fate.
Chasing a demanding 316, the islanders were dismissed for 277 in the 47th over. New Zealand had its nose in front for most part but was given a scare by the strokeful Mahela Jayawardene and the big-hitting Nuwan Kulasekara.
Kumar Sangakkara won the spin of the coin but was let down by some ordinary bowling and fielding.
The pitch at the Wanderers continued to be lively but there was less movement off the seam for the paceman on a hot, sunny day. Since the bounce was consistent, the surface was suitable for shot-making. The bowlers were in with a chance as well when they hit the right areas.
Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya sizzled at the beginning of the chase. Shane Bond and Kyle Mills suffered as the the right-left pair cut, drove and pulled with panache; the infield was consistently pierced in the Power Play overs.
Jayasuriya (24) top-edged a pull off the impressive Darryl Tuffey but the Sri Lankans had raced to 66 in just 7.5 overs.
The marauding Dilshan, denting the bowling with eye, reflexes, and timing, miscued a hook off Mills in the next over for a thrill-a-minute 41 (31b, 7x4, 1x6).
The Kiwis could have made further inroads. Skipper Daniel Vettori put down a sitter at mid-off to reprieve Kumar Sangakkara on zero; Mills was the bowler to suffer.
Then, a diving Brendon McCullum grassed Mahela Jayawardene off Tuffey; the batsman had not opened his account.
Sangakkara did not last long. He perished on-the-walk to left-arm paceman James Franklin who cleverly shortened his length and seamed the ball away from the southpaw.
Thilan Samaraweera was consumed on the cut by left-arm spinner Vettori. Thilina Kandamby left after a mix-up with Jayawardene and Matthews holed out at short covers off the hard-working Franklin. Sri Lanka was staring down the barrel at 141 for six.
There was a twist in the tale though. Sri Lanka took the batting Power Play and Jayawardene cut loose. A stunning straight six off Bond and a lovely off-drive off Tuffey were underlined by grace and timing. He also swung Bond – the Kiwi spearhead took a hammering - for the maximum. Kulasekara got in the act as well and the runs were coming thick and fast.
Vettori's tight left-arm spin kept New Zealand in the hunt. A quicker, straighter delivery finally provided the breakthrough as Jayawardene (77, 85b, 6x4, 2x6) missed an inside-out cover-drive. Sri Lanka continued to fight. Kulasekara (57 not out, 56b, 2x4, 4x6) got into the six hitting mode to keep the Kiwis on their toes.
Finally, the spunky Kulasekara ran out of partners. Earlier, the Sri Lankan pacemen often got their length and direction wrong. They either bowled short and wide or too full or strayed down leg-side
Jesse Ryder thrived when the Lankan bowlers were off target. The left-hander cut, pulled and flicked ruthlessly.
The normally attacking Brendon McCullum, in an unusual role, played second fiddle. Ryder was in pain – he pulled his left abductor muscle to be ruled out of the tournament - but continued to launch into the bowling.
A natural riding on his skill, Ryder rode his luck as well; He was reprieved at third man (by Mendis) and square-leg (by Kandamby) on 11 and 38. Keeping in mind the injured Ryder's limited feet movement, the Lankan bowlers should have made him stretch forward for his drives.
The opening pair put on 125 in 20 overs and Ryder's contribution was a whopping 74 (58b, 10x4, 1x6). He eventually departed, nicking paceman Kulasekara to 'keeper Sangakkara.
The Kiwis suffered a collapse after McCullum (46, 72b, 5x4) was held off the leading edge - Matthews was the bowler - by Dilshan at deep point.
Ross Taylor, pushing forward to Sanath Jayasuriya's left-arm spin, was pouched at point. And Grant Elliott fell to a full delivery angled into him by Matthews. New Zealand slumped to 140 for four in the 24th over.
Niel Broom was prised out by the steady Jayasuriya after a promising beginning but Martin Guptill (66, 76b, 3x4, 1x6) and Vettori (48, 44b, 4x4, 1x6) joined hands to add a crucial 69 runs for the sixth wicket.
Vettori displayed character, upper-cutting Malinga for a six, and punching and driving effectively Vettori was held in the deep off Jayasuriya, however the fluent Franklin, a southpaw, feasted on the Sri Lankan attack even as Guptill changed gears.
The batting Power Play, taken in the last five overs, fetched the Kiwis 61 runs. These proved decisive runs.
Earlier, Muttiah Muralitharan requested the team-management to leave him out due to the nature of the pitch at the Wanderers. The ball had not gripped for the off-spinning wizard on the surface here. The Sri Lankans played an extra paceman.
