Sri Lanka outplay New Zealand by 10 wickets in Galle Test

By Fathima Zanaida

GALLE, Sri Lanka (TheSportsNEXT) November 19, 2012: Left-arm off-spinner Rangana Herath claimed 11 wickets as Sri Lanka mauled New Zealand by 10 wickets in the first Test played at Galle International Stadium on Monday.

New Zealand were bowled out for 118 runs in their second innings, thus giving only 93 runs target for victory which the home side achieved without any loss as openers raced to target from 18.3 overs.

The match could last for less than three days as the pitch always offered something for both seamers and spinners as New Zealand were bowled out for 221 runs in their first innings before their bowlers pulled up their socks to restrict Sri Lanka to 247 runs in their first innings.

However, the match changed completely on third day when New Zealand started at 35 for one but the whole team was bundled out for only 118 runs just after lunch break.

Sri Lankan debutant Dimuth Karunaratne played exceptionally well to remain not out at 60 while Tharanga Paranavitana scored 31 not out as the hosts accomplished the meager target with over two days to spare.

This is the fifth straight loss for New Zealand in Test cricket after losing two matches each to West Indies and India.

Rangana Herath was declared Man of the Match for super bowling performance as he told the presentation party, “I enjoy bowling here. I stick to the basics. I saw on (that I was the leading wicket-taker in 2012)”.

Losing skipper Ross Taylor said, "Herath put us under pressure all the while. The way schedules are these days it can't be helped (lack of warm-ups). The new ball bowlers bowled exceptionally well. The partnership between Angelo and Mahela took the game away. I'm sure there will be a couple of changes before the next Test, but we will have to see the wicket."

Winning captain Mahela Jayawardene said, “He (Herath) has taken a lot of responsibility. This morning he showed a lot of control with the ball and kept the pressure on. It's a great venue and I enjoy batting here. When Dilshan is fit he will walk straight into the side, positive to see Dimuth bat. Happy with the young talent but it's a work in progress."

The second Test will be played at the P Sara Oval on Sunday.

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Jayawardene, Mathews give Sri Lanka first innings lead over Kiwis

By Fathima Zanaida

GALLE, Sri Lanka (TheSportsNEXT) November 18, 2012: Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene (91) and all-rounder Angelo Mathews (79) helped Sri Lanka to take a slender 26 runs first innings lead over New Zealand in first Test at Galle International Stadium on Sunday.

Mahela Jayawardene scored 91 runs and missed out on a Test century for sixth time in his Test career of which three nervous nineties came against New Zealand. Angelo Mathews scored 79 runs.

Responding to New Zealand’s first innings total of 221 runs, Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 247 runs.

New Zealand scored 35 for one in their second innings and led Sri Lanka by only nine runs at stumps on day two.

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Sri Lanka name squads for BlackCaps ODIs, Tests

A common sight from Sri Lanka these days

By Fathima Zanaida

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (TheSportsNEXT) November 9, 2012: The Sri Lanka Cricket has announced squads for the remainder of the One Day International series as well as the succeeding Test series against New Zealand on Friday.

As per the Sri Lanka Cricket press release issued here the Minister has also accorded his approval to the squads.

The squads were finalized in an SLC Selection Committee meeting held in Colombo on Friday morning.

Sri Lanka’s squad for the fourth and fifth One Day Internationals to be played at Hambantota includes Mahela Jayawardena (Captain), Angelo Mathews (Vice Captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Shaminda Eranga, Upul Tharanga, Rangana Herath, Akila Dhanajaya, and P.H.T Kaushal.

Sri Lanka’s squad for the Test series against BlackCaps includes Mahela Jayawardena (Captain), Angelo Mathews (Vice Captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranawithana, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Prassanna Jayawardane, P.H.T Kaushal, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Dinesh Chandimal, Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welagedara, Shaminda Eranga, and Dhammika Prasad.

Sri Lanka are leading the five-match One Day International series against New Zealand by 2-0 after three matches as one of the first three matches was completely washed out while the other two games were decided on the infamous Duckworth-Lewis Method.

The One-dayers will be followed by a two-match Test series with first match will be played at Galle from November 17-21, 2012 while Colombo will host the second test from November 25-29, 2012.

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Sri Lanka go 2-0 up over BlackCaps in ODI series

By Fathima Zanaida

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (TheSportsNEXT) November 7, 2012: Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand by seven wickets after Duckworth-Lewis Method calculations in yet another rain-affected match played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Former skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan was the star of the show for the home side as the opening batsman struck an unbeaten hundred to guide Sri Lanka to an impressive victory.

Sri Lanka’s new Twenty20 skipper Angelo Mathews also redeemed himself in the One-dayers with gutsy unbeaten half century as Sri Lanka chased down their target with 11 balls to spare for the loss of only three wickets.

Batting first, New Zealand scored 188 for six from 33 overs after rain once again forced officials to reduce the size of the match.

Opening batsman BJ Watling stepped up his game and scored 96 not out form 88 balls hitting 12 boundaries but he largely lacked support from the other batsmen as Rob Nicol (7 from 16), Brendon McCullum (13 from 25), skipper Ross Taylor (7 from 16 – 1 four), Jacob Oram (2 from 4), and Kane Williamson (5 from 6), all failed to help the side get a respectable total.

Jeevan Mendis took two wickets for 34 runs while Lasith Malinga (1/40), Nuwan Kulasekara (1/45), and Angelo Mathews (1/15) grabbed one wicket apiece.

Sri Lanka were given the target of 197 runs from 33 overs after applying the Duckworth-Lewis Method which looked a little stiff for the second-batting side.

Sri Lanka lost Upul Tharanga (10 from 13 – 2 fours), Kumar Sangakkara (15 from 27), and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (5 from 6) early in the run-chase but Tillakaratne Dilshan (102 not out from 95 – 12 fours, 1 six) kept his fight alive and found perfect partner in Angelo Mathews (54 not out from 47 – 7 fours).

Dilshan and Mathews added 127 runs for the fourth wicket from 98 balls which proved the difference between the two sides as New Zealand once again couldn’t seal the deal despite of coming close to that elusive victory in Sri Lanka.

Tillakaratne Dilshan was declared Man of the Match for his brilliant unbeaten knock of 102 runs.

The series now moves to Hambantota where the two teams will play the final two One Day Internationals on November 10 and 12.

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Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 14 runs in 2nd ODI

By Fathima Zanaida 

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (TheSportsNEXT) November 4, 2012: Inclement weather once again left bad taste in the mouth of cricket lovers on Sunday when rain forced another cricket game to use the infamous Duckworth-Lewis Method as Sri Lanka took a 1-0 lead in the five-match One Day Internationals by winning the second ODI at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium by 14 runs.

Watching cricket action in Sri Lanka has been a tough thing this season as right from the Sri Lanka Premier League, the ICC World Twenty20 2012, and now the New Zealand tour to Sri Lanka all saw some of the potentially best matches either washed out or were decided on the Duckworth-Lewis Method.

The first One Day International of the series was washed out and the second match also succumbed to inclement weather conditions on Sunday when New Zealand gave them a great chance by scoring 250 runs for the loss of six wickets from their 50 overs.

New Zealand were looking good to make a match of this one as they had reduced Sri Lanka to 118 for three from 22.5 overs before rain played spoilsport at Pallekele and at that point in time the hosts were 14 runs above the par score as per the Duckworth-Lewis Method calculations.

Mahela Jayawardene and Angelo Mathews were at the crease and the Kiwi bowlers had already gotten rid of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara and scalp of Mahela could have made the match all the more interesting, but it wasn’t to be in the end.

Batting first, New Zealand scored 250/6, thanks to four major knocks led by skipper Ross Taylor who hit 72 from 62 balls smashing seven boundaries and two maximums.

BJ Watling (55 from 86 – 6 fours), Rob Nicol (46 from 74 - 3 fours), and James Franklin (35 not out from 40 – 1 six) also came good with the bat after New Zealand had to leave out Brendon McCullum due to a strain.

The BlackCaps innings had two major partnerships, one between Rob Nicol and and BJ Watling worth 83 runs for the second wicket and second between skipper Ross Taylor and James Franklin as they added 91 for the fourth wicket.

Lasith Malinga took two wickets for 39 runs while Rangana Herath proved difficult to get away as he bowled a miser spell of one for 28. Nuwan Kulasekara (10-1-50-1), Angelo Mathews (7-0-38-1), and Thisara Perera (7-0-52-1) also captured a wicket each.

Chasing 251-run target was not a walk in the park at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium and the home side needed one of their three top batsmen, i.e. Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara, and Mahela Jayawardene, to stay there right to the end.

However, it was rain which had the final say as Sri Lanka scored 118 for three from 22.5 overs when rain finally put an end to cricket action and with it New Zealand’s chances of winning the second ODI.

Lasith Malinga was declared Man of the Match for his disciplined and hostile bowling spell.

The two teams will contest the third One Day International at the same venue on November 6 (Tuesday).

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Rain leaves Sri Lanka, Kiwis with no result in one-off T20I

By Fathima Zanaida

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (TheSportsNEXT) October 30, 2012: Mother Nature had the final say at Pallekele International Stadium on Tuesday when rain forced a no result in the one-off Twenty20 International match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

After the match was reduced to 14 overs a side due to torrential rain, New Zealand managed to score 74 for 14 overs.

Sri Lankans were given a target of 72 runs from 14 overs after the Duckworth/Lewis Method calculations.

Sri Lanka were six for no loss from two overs when it poured down for one final time to force the ICC match officials to eventually abandon the match.

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