Close shave
New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by one wicket in a dramatic Champions Trophy group A match here on Sunday.
Left-arm seamer Mitchell McClenaghan claimed four wickets as Sri Lanka were shot out for 138 after electing to take first strike. Kumar Sangakkara top-scored with 68. New Zealand lost nine wickets before they surpassed the modest target in the 37th over after Lasith Malinga claimed
McClenaghan, who turns 27 on Monday, celebrated early as he led an impressive Black Caps display in the field after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to take first strike.
Veteran Kumar Sangakkara played a lone hand for the Islanders with 68, his 75th one-day half-century, but five of the other six top-order batsmen failed to reach double figures as the team folded in 37.5 overs.
Sri Lanka never recovered after losing Kusal Perera off the first ball of the match when New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum flew to his left at second slip to pick up a brilliant catch off Kyle Mills. Tillakaratne Dilshan hit 20 off 18 balls when he was bowled by McClenaghan to make Sri Lanka 27/2. It soon became 33/3 as veteran Daniel Vettori, playing his first one-dayer since the World Cup semi-final against the same opponents in Colombo two years ago, struck with his fourth delivery.
A slower, flighted ball caught star batsman Mahela Jayawardene on the back foot and umpire Bruce Oxenford upheld Vettori’s loud appeal for leg-before. Mills claimed another wicket in the ninth over when Dinesh Chandimal, attempting a huge drive outside the off-stump, edged an easy catch to wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi. Skipper Angelo Mathews helped Sangakkara carry the total from 34/4 to 65 when he was bowled round his legs by McClenaghan for nine in the 21st over.
There was no respite for the Sri Lankans as Lahiru Thirimanne was run out in the 27th over when Sangakkara turned his back on a sharp single after initially calling the non-striker for a single.
Thisara Perera, who was dropped before he had scored and was then repreived by a television review after being given out leg-before, put on 36 for the seventh wicket with Sangakkara.
Sangakkara himself fell in the 37th over, caught at point by Kane Williamson off spinner Nathan McCullum, who finished with two wickets.
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