Nathan Astle remained unbeaten as New Zealand reached
their target of 116 with nine balls remaining to secure victory in their Twenty20
match against Sri Lanka.
Astle struck an unbeaten 40 off 37 balls to guide the home
side to victory, while opener Brendon McCullum contributed 28 runs from
28 balls.
Bowlers Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando had
earlier provided some resistance for the tourists after the Blackcaps had ripped
the batting order to dismiss Sri Lanka for 115 with 10 balls to spare.
McCullum and Stephen Fleming had given the Blackcaps
and solid start to reach 51 without loss before the New Zealand captain was
caught by Chamara Kapugedera off Fernando, who finished with figures of three
for 19 off four overs.
Ross Taylor was then run out for seven before McCullum
was dismissed in similar fashion in the same over as New Zealand fell to 57
for three.
Astle and Peter Fulton moved the score onto four for 82 before Fulton was bowled
by Fernando.
Peter McGlashan followed with just four added as he was caught
by Tillakaratne Dilshan off Fernando before James Franklin (three not
out) and Astle guided the home side to victory.
Earlier Franklin, who dismissed opener Upul Tharanga for nought
off just the third ball of the innings, finished with three for 23 off four
overs while Andre Adams returned figures of two for 20 from his four overs.
Kapugedera (12), captain Mahela Jayawardene (nine),
Marvan Atapattu (five) and Kumar Sangakkara (13) all fell cheaply as Sri Lanka
fell to five for 51.
Dilshan (three), Chamara Silva (12) and Malinga Bandara (1) were all dismissed
but Malinga smashed 27 off 19 balls before being bowled by Jeetan Patel and
Fernando contributed 21 off 14 balls before he was caught by Adams off Astle
to boost the total.
Last man Ruchira Perera was dismissed for a first ball duck
as Sri Lanka were dismissed with 10 balls to spare.
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