(Can New Zealand take an unassailable lead in the seven-match series or can Sri Lanka fight back and stay alive in it? Catch the Live cricket scores here)
It’s been a comprehensive performance by the New Zealand side as they have registered a huge 108-run win in this fifth ODI, taking a lead of 3-1 in the seven-match series. Sri Lanka were on top when they had New Zealand tottering at 93 for five, but Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliot’s world record stand meant the Kiwis remain in the dominant position.
Tillakaratne Dilshan has notched up his 20th century. It was a finely placed innings and Sri Lanka look in the right position to chase down the total. After the fall of two wickets, Sri Lanka still can chase down total with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene still on the crease.
Lahiru Thirimanne is getting most runs and has played some beautiful shots out their. Tillakaratane Dilshan has played quite a few dot balls but Sri Lanka will be happy not to lose any wickets.Sri Lanka have made a silent start to their innings, in reply to the mammoth total posted by the hosts. They need to do something special from here to reach to the huge score. Both the openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne are still their on the crease.
Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliot smashed their maiden and second ODI centuries respectively to stitch together a mammoth 267-run stand for the sixth wicket to help New Zealand finish on a total of 360 for the loss of five wickets, smashing several records along the way. While Ronchi ended up registering the highest individual score by a New Zealand batsman, smashing 170 runs off 99 deliveries, the 267-run stand turned out to be the highest-ever in ODI cricket for the sixth wicket.
Corey Anderson has returned to the pavilion as New Zealand have lost their fifth wicket without completing 100 runs in the 20th over. Anderson, who scored a useful 47 in the previous game, departs after hitting a couple of boundaries. Skipper Thirimanne takes his second wicket of the match.
It’s all over! Sri Lanka have been bowled out for 252 as New Zealand have once again produced a performance that makes them so, so strong in the 50-over format as well in world cricket. Tim Southee takes two wickets in the 44th over to end Sri Lanka’s innings, and take New Zealand to a huge win in the fifth ODI here at Dunedin.
Wickets stumbling like quickly here. The plot has changed quickly in this fifth ODI at Dunedin. Once Sri Lanka looked comfortable to chase the total but now five quick wickets have changed the equation.
OUT!! T Perera c Williamson b Boult 0(1), Chandimal c Ronchi b McClenaghan 0(3), N Kulasekara c Ronchi b Boult 3(4), Dilshan c Nathan McCullum b McClenaghan 116(106), M Jayawardene b Boult 30(29)
Dilshan has done it. He gets his 20th One-Day International (ODI) century. A fine knock by the Sri Lankan opener. Sri Lanka look in the right zone to chase down the total.
OUT!!! K Sangakkara c Nathan McCullum b Elliott 9(17)
Lahiru Thirimanne has fallen short of his half-century here. He has been dismissed by Grant Elliot. Kumar Sangakkara has come out to the middle. Meanwhile, Dilshan has got to his fifty.
OUT!!!Thirimanne c Ross Taylor b Elliott 45(65)
After a sedate start, Sri Lankan openers have accelerated in the next few overs, Thirimanne has got most of the runs.The only six of Sri Lankan innings came off his bat. Tim Southee bowled a length delivery on the middle stump and Thirimanne just flicked it away over the deep square leg boundary for a maximum.
Sri Lanka are off to a slow start. The New Zealand bowlers have done really well here in the opening overs. Both batsmen have managed to hit one boundary in the first seven overs.
The spectacle is finally over, as New Zealand have finally posted a total of 360. Who would have thought of that at the end of the 20th over, when the Kiwis were struggling at a score of 93 for five. The 267-run stand between Elliott and Ronchi shall remain a cricketing folklore for the days to come.
Ronchi brings up his maiden ODI hundred in style, taking just 74 balls to bring up the landmark! Ronchi, who should have brought up the milestone during the ODI series against South Africa last year but ended up missing it by an inch, has single-handedly turned the game around as New Zealand are now in a position to post a total that might send shudders down Sri Lankan spines. Ronchi is on the verge of registering the highest ever score by a New Zealand wicket-keeper.
New Zealand have managed to stage a complete turnaround by now, with the sixth wicket stand worth 145 now in just 120 balls. Ronchi is nearing his maiden ODI hundred, Elliott is going steady with the bat on the other side.
It is a match which is destined to see some records tumble, if one’s instinct is to be believed. Both Ronchi and Elliott complete their respective half-centuries, fifty number four and seven for Ronchi and Elliott respectively. The partnership is now worth 103 runs as the two have led a great fightback for the Kiwis to recover from a score of 93 for five.
The Elliott-Ronchi have crossed the fifty-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Ronchi has smashed three sixes and two fours as he surpasses Elliott’s score in such a short space already. Senanayeke has conceded 28 runs in the four overs that he has bowled so far.
Luke Ronchi announces his intentions with two consecutive sixes off the bowling of Jeevan Mendis over mid-wicket, as this pair is the last hope for New Zealand to post a respectable total and keep their hopes of clinching the series in this game alive.
New Zealand have collapsed from 51/1 to 93/5, with Anderson failing to offer much to his side’s total. Thirimanne collects his second wicket of the match with a fullish delivery that was pitched slightly outside leg, but rapped Anderson on the pads and seemed to be headed towards the middle-stump. Anderson isn’t very convinced by the umpire’s decision to raise the finger, but cannot do much about it as the Kiwis are out of reviews at the moment.
OUT! Corey Anderson lbw Thirimanne 8 (12)
The Sri Lankans are on top of things at the moment as New Zealand lose their fourth wicket with just 82 runs on the board. Taylor attempts to smash the full-pitched delivery outside over mid-wicket, with Karunaratne taking a catch near the boundary. Its upto Anderson and Elliott, whose valuable knocks in the previous game complimented Williamson’s century to guide the Kiwis to a win.
OUT! Ross Taylor c Karunaratne b Thirimanne 20 (23)
The Lankans are back in the game after a brief blitz by McCullum and Williamson, with the latter becoming the latest Kiwi batsman to depart back to the pavilion. Tries to defend a well-pitched delivery on the back-foot, but manages to get a thick-edge to give Sangakkara an easy catch. The hosts now find themselves in a situation not very different from the one in the previous game at Nelson. The only difference. No Williamson to guide them through. The New Zealand middle-order will be tested once again now.
OUT! Kane Williamson c Sangakkara b Perera 26 (32)
The Sri Lankans finally manage to accomplish what they should have done eight overs earlier, dismiss the New Zealand skipper that is. While Dilshan missed out on a catch to send McCullum on that occasion, Kulasekara managed to get the better of the hard-hitting batsman in the 11th over. The batsman tries to play the delivery which was in-line with the off-stump and of good length towards the off-side. Misses the delivery and gets a bit of pad. The Sri Lankans successfully appeal for the wicket. McCullum goes for the review, with the ball destined to kiss the off-stump had the pad not hindered its path. Departs after smashing five quick boundaries to help New Zealand recover from the first-ball dismissal.
OUT! Brendon McCullum lbw Kulasekara 25 (37)
New Zealand are beginning to undo the damage inflicted upon them right at the start of the match, as the second-wicket pair of McCullum and Williamson have added a quickfire 35 runs off just six overs, smashing seven boundaries in the process. The University Oval outfield is doing its bit to support the batsmen, as the ball is comfortably beating the batsmen in its race towards the boundary. Dilshan might live to regret dropping McCullum on a score of one in the last ball of the second over bowled by Suranga Lakmal at backward point.
Sri Lanka strike off the first ball of the match as Nuwan Kulasekara manages to entice Martin Guptill to play a half-hearted shot to a delivery that was pitched outside off. Brilliant start for the visitors in their pursuit of keeping their hopes of a series win alive.
OUT! Martin Guptill c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 0 (0)
Teams:
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum (c), Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi (wk), Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Mitchell McClenaghan, Trent Boult.
Big News: Angelo Mathews is to miss out on the fifth ODI due to a calf injury, with Lahiru Thirimanne assuming captaincy in his place. Rangana Herath too has been rested for the game, with Suranga Lakmal occupying his place in the side.
Toss: Sri Lanka win the toss and elect to field.
Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s coverage of the fifth One-Day International (ODI) between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at Dunedin on Friday. This is Amit Banerjee, and I will be bringing you the live updates from the match.
New Zealand won the first match by three wickets and the second match was won by Sri Lanka by six wickets. The third match unfortunately got abandoned due to rain and New Zealand managed to come out on top in the fourth ODI. Read the preview of the 5th ODI between New Zealand and Sri Lanka
It has been a very closely fought series so far and if New Zealand manage to win this ODI, they cannot be defeated in the series. Mahela Jawawardene started the series on a bright note for his team as he scored a century in the first game. It wasn’t enough as New Zealand managed to win the match thanks to a match-winning innings by Corey Anderson. Mitchell Mclenaghan was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers as he finished with four wickets. After making bad start to the year by his standards, skipper Brendon McCullum scored a century in the second game in a losing cause as his counterpart Tillakaratne Dilshan made 116 to take the game away from the opposition
In the fourth game, it was young Kane Williamson’s turn to shine as his match-winning knock of 103 took the Kiwis over the line while chasing a stiff target of 276. Today’s match is going to be important for both teams as New Zealand would want to win and ensure that Sri Lanka can’t overtake him and Sri Lanka will have to win to stay alive in the series. With the ICC World Cup 2015 just around the corner, both teams will want to get their best team and combinations out on the field to give them as much game time as possible.
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