Sri Lanka cruise to comfortable win, narrowly miss out on Bonus Point

A clinical bowling performance by the hosts to restrict the Kiwis to a paltry total and then they followed it up by a responsible batting performance with a bit of hiccup towards the end to thump New Zealand by 3 wickets to win the second ODI of the tri-series.

After opting to bat on a good wicket, New Zealand got off to a worst possible start, losing first three batsmen quickly. They scored 47 runs in the Quick Start Overs followed by 16/2 in the Bowling Power Play. Debutant Bradley Watling and veteran Scott Styris came together and stitched a partnership of 52 runs for the fourth wicket. But once these two were dismissed, the wickets fell like nine pins and they were reduced to 7/123. The tail wagged once again and contributed crucial 69 runs to the total and finally they were bundled out for 192 runs in 48.1 overs. The visitors managed 30/2 in the Extreme Performance Overs which included 15/2 in the Batting Power Play. Bradely Watling was the pick of the batsman for the Kiwis, scoring 55, his maiden ODI Fifty, earning a Batting Momentum of 66. Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews were the chief destroyers with three wickets each, earning a Bowling Efficiency of 257 and 250 respectively.

Chasing 193 runs for a win, Sri Lanka lost Dilshan cheaply in the third over but an 85-run stand between Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara sealed the game to an extent in the favour of the hosts. Sri Lankans added 44 runs in the Quick Start Overs followed by 30/0 in the Bowling Power Play. Sangakkara gave his wicket mid-way but Tharanga continued the good work and played a valiant knock of 70 runs, earning a Batting Momentum of 73. In attempt to claim the bonus point, the hosts lost few quick wickets and made the victory a bit complicated but Samaraweera and Kapugedara saw them through, without the bonus point. The Batting Power Play fetched New Zealand four wickets and they conceded 42 runs. Kyle Mills was the best bowler of the lot claiming a four-for and finishing with a Bowling Efficiency of 288.

Sri Lanka finished with a Castrol Index of 156 as compared to New Zealand’s 117. The Lankans were ahead in all the departments except the Quick Start Overs, wherein the Kiwis edged ahead. Upul Tharanga bagged the Man-of-the-Match award for his fabulous batting, finishing with an Overall Castrol Index of 124. The hosts Sri Lanka will now collide with their familiar foes India at the same venue on Monday, the 16th of August, 2010 at 0900 GMT.