Posted by Unknown
Monday, June 10, 2013
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CARDIFF, Jun 10: New Zealand scraped home by one wicket in a
thrilling low-scoring Champions Trophy contest against Sri Lanka in
Cardiff, reports PA Sport.
The Kiwis had only been chasing 139 to win
their Group A opener but were reduced to 49 for four and then 80 for
six as the brilliant Lasith Malinga (four for 34) and Shaminda Eranga
(two for 45) got among the wickets.
However, skipper Brendon McCullum
and his brother Nathan made important contributions before Tim Southee
(13 not out) and last man Mitchell McClenaghan (one not out) got them
home by the skin of their teeth. Earlier Kumar Sangakkara’s defiant 68
was the only plus point for Sri Lanka as they were skittled out for 138
inside 38 overs.
Despite losing opener Luke Ronchi (seven) early, New
Zealand looked to be steadily working their way to victory until a run
of three wickets in eight balls gave Sri Lanka hope. With the score on
48, Kane Williamson (16) misjudged a slow full toss from Malinga which
hit him on the thigh bang in front, and the batsman unwisely reviewed
despite being plumb.
Ross Taylor went without scoring to the last
ball of the following over, lbw to Rangana Herath, before Martin Guptill
(25), who had looked in good touch, edged Shaminda Eranga to Kumar
Sangakkara to make it 49 for four.
The Black Caps looked in danger of
collapse, and skipper McCullum (18) and James Franklin (six) tried
their best to steady the ship.
They got the score to 70 before
Franklin fell lbw to Tillakaratne Dilshan with 69 still needed. Daniel
Vettori (five), clearly being hampered by his longstanding Achilles
problem, did not last long on his return to the side as he got a very
poor decision.
He was given out lbw to Malinga despite getting a
clear inside edge onto his pad, but with no review to utilise he had to
go. Nathan McCullum (32) and his brother slowly chipped away at the
target, but two full Malinga deliveries did for them to put the game
back in the melting pot at 122 for eight.
Southee survived an appeal
despite being plumb lbw to Malinga, before Mills (three) was run out as
Thisara Perera missed the stumps at the bowler’s end but saw his wayward
effort hit the wickets at the other end.
However, New Zealand just
managed to reach their target - with a suitably chaotic end as
McClenaghan dived to make his ground for a second run, Sangakkara
fumbled as he broke the stumps and an eventual wide signal made the
run-out attempt immaterial.
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