Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews shared six wickets between them as Sri Lanka bundled out a hapless New Zealand for 192 in the second match of the tri-nation ODI series here on Friday.
After a high in the opening match, in which they beat India by a massive 200 runs, the Kiwis hit a low with half of their side returning back to the pavilion inside 23.1 overs at 101 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.
Opener B.J. Watling topscored with a 68-ball 55 on debut but New Zealand kept losing wickets against some brilliant bowling by Malinga and Mathews, who strangled the Kiwi batting order.
Electing to bat, New Zealand made a disastrous start, losing opener Martin Guptill in the second ball of the first over. Trying to cut an away going delivery of Malinga, Guptill’s leading edge landed in Chamara Kapugedera's safe hands at backward point.
Mathews then struck twice in the 11th over, trapping Taylor (16) in front of wicket off the first ball and then removing Kane Williamson (0) in the third ball, caught at first slip by Thilan Samaraweera.
Rangana Herath then removed Scott Styris (24) caught at first slip by Mahela Jayawardene, while in the next over Watling was also sent packing by Mathews as New Zealand slipped to 101 for five in 23.1 over.
Malinga then dealt two more blows, getting rid of Gareth Hopkins (11) and Daryl Tuffey (0) in consecutive deliveries. Kyle Mills (11) was the next to go when Herath’s flighted delivery got the leading edge of his blade and long-off fielder Mathews took a running catch as the visitors plummeted to 143 for eight in 37 overs.
Second highest scorer, Nathan McCullum (36) gave some respectability to the New Zealand innings before perishing in the 45th over. Tim Southee (13) and AJ McKay (4) tried to push the score close to the 200-mark but the effort went in vain.