ICC Champions Trophy 2013 - 4th Match
(Group A: New Zealand vs Sri Lanka at Cardiff)
New Zealand survive Malinga magic in thriller
| Sri Lanka | vs | New Zealand |
 |
 |
|
| 138/10 (37.5) | 139/9 (36.3) | |
| New Zealand won by 1 wicket | ||
 |
| Photo © BCCI |
Lasith Malinga took the 22 yards out of the equation in a low-scoring thriller, but New Zealand survived him to register their first win over Sri Lanka in four years. The pitch has hardly ever mattered less. It was flat, the sun was out, the ball was not swinging, but Malinga's dipping slower full tosses had New Zealand batsmen hopping and hoping in what was expected to be an afternoon stroll. Nathan McCullum, first, and then Tim Southee batted with just the maturity New Zealand desperately needed to see them through with one wicket in hand.
The chase swung dramatically. From coasting at 48 for 1 New Zealand stumbled to 49 for 4. From 70 for 4 they fell to 80 for 6, but then, crucially, they were allowed to get away with a relatively quieter phase when Malinga was taken off and brought back only after brothers McCullum had taken off 31 off the requirement. Malinga came back and seemed like he could strike with every ball, but Sri Lanka will be left asking themselves - especially because Malinga brought them so close - if they had kept Malinga's four overs back for too long.
 |
| Photo © BCCI |
No comments:
Post a Comment