By Suneer Chowdhary
Sri Lanka overcame a slow beginning at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to post a challenging target of 266 for New Zealand. With both teams having already got through to the next round, it is a matter of who gets into the top two positions in the points-table with a win in this game.
Published: Mar 18, 2011, 06:43 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 18, 2011, 06:43 PM (IST)
Kumar Sangakkara made his first ton since July 2008
By Suneer Chowdhary
Mumbai: Mar 18, 2011
Sri Lanka overcame a slow beginning at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai to post a challenging target of 266 for New Zealand. With both teams having already got through to the next round, it is a matter of who gets into the top two positions in the points-table with a win in this game.
It was a kind of start that most teams would fear about in a knock-out game, losing both their openers for three apiece. To be fair to Upul Tharanga, he was unfortunate to be run out at the non-striker’s end but it must added in the same breath that he was backing too far. Tillakaratne Dilshan, on the other hand, was frustrated by some excellent pace bowling before losing his head, and his wicket off the bowling of Tim Southee. His top-edge was caught at the third-man fence.
Kumar Sangakkara survived an early run-out chance appeal but apart from that, he looked confident without being aggressive. At the other end, Mahela Jayawardene, whose World Cup campaign seemed to be going nowhere after that first century overcame his early dismissals to guide the side to 43 for two in 10. 17 came off the next five overs as Sri Lanka got to 60 in their 15.
Despite the falling run-rate, the pair knew what they were doing. The Mumbai heat combined with the short boundaries was always going to hurt the Kiwis if Sri Lanka ended up with their share of wickets in the end.
Jayawardene was lucky to be not given out though. This happened in the 24th over when the run-rate had dropped to less than 3.7 per over and a frustrated Jayawardene first went for a reverse sweep that narrowly missed finding a fielder and then had the batsman edging it back to the bowler, Nathan McCullum. McCullum dived to his right and brought about what looked to be a ripping catch. Jayawardene stood, the third umpire was called and for some reason beyond most onlookers, the batsman was awarded a not-out verdict.
Both the batsmen completed their half-centuries and slowly began to cut loose. With the momentum having swung in favour of Sri Lanka and the ball being changed as well, the Batting Powerplay was taken. Jayawardene got out immediately for 66 but Sangakkara crunched 17 off a Southee over to get to his 100. This was his first since June 2008 and despite the steamy conditions, the glee was visible on his face.
McCullum had Sangakkara bowled for 111, a tired stroke coming at the back of an excellently placed innings. There was a cameo from Angelo Mathews at the end of the innings but without too much support at the other end from the other batsmen, only 55 came in the last 50 deliveries.
No team has ever chased down more than 230 successfully at this ground but the pitch has looked far better than some of the others seen here. The bigger question is whether the exhausted New Zealand batsmen can deliver the goods.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 265 for 9 in 50 overs (Kumar Sangakkara 111, Mahela Jayawardene 66; Tim Southee 3 for 63, Nathan McCullum 2 for 48) vs New Zealand.
(Suneer is a Mumbai-based cricket writer and can be contacted at suneerchowdhary@gmail.com and Tweets here @suneerchowdhary)
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