New Zealand's 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka in 2nd ODI 7th largest by balls remaining

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by 10 wickets and with 250 balls left.

Martin Guptill smashed 93 in only 30 balls © Getty Images

New Zealand have won the second ODI of their ongoing home series against Sri Lanka at Christchurch by 10 wickets and with 250 balls remaining. This is the seventh largest victory in the history of one day cricket in terms of balls left. In 50-over ODIs, it is the sixth highest. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first but were shot out for 117 in 27.4 overs itself. Right-arm fat bowler Matt Henry took a four-wicket-haul taking key wickets of Danushka Gunathilaka and Tillakaratne Dilshan. Left-arm fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan also chipped in with three wickets viz. Sri Lanka’s skipper’s Angelo Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne and Milinda Siriwardana. SCORECARD: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2015-16, 2nd ODI at Christchurch

In reply, New Zealand chased down the target in 8.2 overs itself with all wickets intact. Martin Guptill smashed an unbeaten 93 off just 30 balls with nine boundaries and eight shots which dispatched the ball for maximum. Tom Latham, who was batting at the other end was just a mute spectator as he saw Guptill destroy the Lankans. Latham scored just 17 runs in 20 deliveries as he watched his partner slam band his way to 93. Guptill could have cracked the fastest century by a New Zealand batsman if Sri Lanka had scored a few more runs. READ: Martin Guptill’s 93 off 30 balls helps New Zealand gain 2-0 lead over Sri Lanka

The record for the highest margin of win in terms of balls remaining in ODIs rests with England when they completely decimated Canada at Manchester in 1979. They chased down Canada’s paltry 45 in 13.5 overs (277 balls remaining). But that was a 60 over match. Hence, if we take this into consideration and deduct 60 balls, they would have won the match with 217 balls left (if psychological factors are not considered) which will be way below compared to other records of victories by margin of balls remaining in 50-over cricket. On second position is Sri Lanka itself with their nine wicket victory against Zimbabwe at Colombo in 2001. They took only 4.2 overs to chase Zimbabwe’s 37. BLOG: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2015-16, 2nd ODI at Christchurch

This is also Sri Lanka’s biggest loss in terms of balls. It bettered their loss against West Indies long back in 1975 by nine wickets and 236 balls remaining in a 60 over game. In a 50-over match, their most miserable loss was against England in 2014 by 227 balls remaining and 10 wickets left.

Date	Team	Balls left	Overs played	Opposition	Opposition Score	Venue	Maximum Overs
June 13, 1979	England	277	13.5	Canada	45	Machester	60
Dec 8, 2001	Sri Lanka	274	4.2	Zimbabwe	38	Colombo	50
Feb 19, 2003	Sri Lanka	272	4.4	Canada	36	Paarl	50
Dec 31, 2007	New Zealand	264	6	Bangladesh	93	Queenstown	50
Sep 13, 2004	Australia	253	7.5	USA	65	Southampton	50
Feb 20, 2011	New Zealand	252	8	Kenya	69	Chennai	50
Dec 28, 2015	New Zealand	250	8.2	Sri Lanka	117	Christchurch	50