Published: Jan 11, 2015, 11:02 AM (IST)
Edited: Jan 11, 2015, 12:03 PM (IST)
January 11, 2015
New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in the first One-Day International (ODI) at Christchurch. New Zealand were set a target of 219 runs by Sri Lanka after Mahela Jaywardene’s 35th ODI century gave the visitors a fighting total. Jayawardene, however, did not get any support from others and he too perished in pursuit of quick runs thanks to a good catch by Corey Anderson.
Mitchell McClenaghan picked up four wickets and was well supported by other bowlers. Adam Milne too chipped in with a couple of wickets to restrict Sri Lanka to 218 for nine in their 50 Overs.
New Zealand did not get off to the best of starts having lost Martin Guptill for a duck in the third ball of their innings. Brendon McCullum scored fifty of 19 balls to ensure New Zealand were well on course. Unfortunately for New Zealand he was dismissed soon after that. But the quick dismissals of Kane Williamson, Tom Latham and Grant Elliot put New Zealand in a spot of bother. But Corey Anderson’s timely knock of 81 ensured that New Zealand will eventually win. He put on a 60-run stand with Nathan McCullum for the seventh wicket, which made sure that the hosts had no more hiccups.
Tillakaratne Dilshan was pick of the Sri Lanka bowlers with figures of two for 28. Nuwan Kulasekara and Sachitra Senanayake too chipped in with two wickets apiece. The bowlers toiled hard to defend a modest score, but were easily about 30-40 runs short. The second ODI will be played on January 15 at Hamilton.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka: 218 for nine in 50 Overs (Mahela Jayawardene 104, Jeevan Mendis 23;Mitchell McClenaghan 4/36) lost to New Zealand: 219 for seven in 43 Overs (Brendon McCullum 51, Corey Anderson 81; Tillakaratne Dilshan 2/28) by three wickets.
