Sunday, 16 September 2007
Johannesburg, South Africa,

Sri Lanka powered their way to register their second successive victory defeating New Zealand by seven wickets in their ICC inaugural Twenty20 World Cup group 'C' fixture played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday.

After restricting the opposition to 164 for 7 from their 20 overs the Lankans reached their target in style scoring 168 for 3 with more than an over to spare. Sri Lanka got off to a flying start with the openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga bringing up the fifty runs from just 4.4 overs. The pair launched a massive assault on the New Zealand bowlers and added 82 runs in 7.3 overs.

Tharanga departed for a well compiled 37 from 25 balls with two sixes and two fours. But Jayasuriya continued with his excellent form in this tournament with another half century that set the pace for an easy victory. The dashing left-hander hammered 61 from 43 deliveries with the help of three sixes and half a dozen boundaries.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardena then added the finishing touches with an undefeated 35 runs from 18 balls which included one six and four fours. He was also associated in a third wicket stand of 50 runs in 28 balls with Sanath Jayasuriya.

Earlier Ross Taylor hit a top score of 62 off 42 balls with three sixes to help New Zealand reach 165-7 after they had won the toss and elected to bat first. Taylor and Fulton rescued New Zealand following a disappointing start after Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando had varied their pace beautifully to keep the runs down in the initial stages of the game. In fact the seasoned campaigner Chaminda Vaas sent down his four overs on the trot with tremendous control and accuracy.

But the initial damage was done by seamer Dilhara Fernando who picked up two wickets in successive overs to push the Kiwis on the defensive. Lasith Malinga who was introduced into the attack in the 13th over made run making even more difficult for the opposition. Sanath Jayasuriya also struck early and got rid off the dangerous Scott Styris when the batsman had attempted for a reverse sweep. The Lankans had the game under control at this stage with New Zealand struggling to reach 80 for 2 at the half way stage of the innings.

However New Zealand recovered through a third wicket stand of 69 runs between Fulton and Taylor. They reached their one hundred in the 13th over with Taylor completing his half century in 30 balls with three sixes and two fours.

New Zealand further consolidated their position during the latter stages of the innings through a sixth wicket stand of 50 runs in 34 balls between Taylor and Jacob Oram. The latter added the finishing touches remaining unbeaten on 33 from 19 balls with two fours and two sixes.

NEW ZEALAND

B. McCullum c Malinga b Fernando 10

L. Vincent c Silva b Fernando 14

P. Fulton c Malinga b Wijekoon 25

R. Taylor c Sangakkara b Malinga 62

S. Styris lbw b Jayasuriya 2

C. McMillan run out 2

J. Oram not out 33

D. Vettori run out 3

Extras (b1, lb2, w10) 13

TOTAL (for seven wickets) 164

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-22 (McCullum), 2-25 (Vincent), 3-95 (Fulton),

1-22 (McCullum), 2-25 (Vincent), 3-95 (Fulton),
4-97 (Styris), 5-102 (McMillan), 6-153 (Taylor), 7-164 (Vettori).

BOWLING: Vaas 4-0-27-0, Fernando 4-0-30-2 (w2),

Jayasuriya 4-0-25-1, Wijekoon 4-0-50-1 (w2), Malinga 4-0-29-1 (w1)

OVERS: 20

SRI LANKA

U. Tharanga c Martin b Vettori 37

S. Jayasuriya c Fulton b Vettori 61

K. Sangakkara c Taylor b Styris 14

M. Jayawardene not out 35

C. Silva not out 9

Extras (b3, lb8, w1) 12

TOTAL (for three wickets) 168

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-82 (Tharanga), 2-108 (Sangakkara), 3-158 (Jayasuriya).

: 1-82 (Tharanga), 2-108 (Sangakkara), 3-158 (Jayasuriya).
BOWLING: Bond 4-0-45-0, Martin 3-0-23-0, Gillespie 2.5-0-29-0 (w1),

Vettori 4-0-23-2, Styris 3-0-16-1, Oram 2-0-21-0

OVERS: 18.5

Sri Lanka won by seven wickets

Umpires: Darryl Harper (AUS) and Mark Benson (ENG)

Darryl Harper (AUS) and Mark Benson (ENG)
Third umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)

Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG).

The Group 'C' Points Table.
Group C

Team Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Net RR

Sri Lanka 2 2 0 0 0 4 +4.721

New Zealand 2 1 1 0 0 2 +2.396

Kenya 2 0 2 0 0 0 -8.047