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Muralitharan
scripts a comfortable win for SL over Black Caps |
October 20, 2006 (Link to
Scorecard)
 Sri
Lanka saved themselves from getting knocked out
of the Champions Trophy with a seven-wicket win
over the Black Caps at Mumbai. The Kiwis lost
most part of the match in the afternoon itself
after their innings was in complete disarray to
be eventually bowled out for just 165. The
Lankans knocked off the runs with relative
comfort.
Today’s game was played under much improved
pitch conditions as the ICC had decided to get
Polyvinyl acetate (PVA), a kind of glue to be
sprayed onto the pitch to bind the surface
together for 100 overs. The results paid off
with the ball coming onto the bat although New
Zealand after winning the toss were shot out for
a paltry total. In the second innings, the
Lankan batsmen didn’t find much trouble as the
pitch didn’t show any signs of deterioration as
Sri Lanka coasted to victory with 14 overs to
spare. Upul Tharanga continued his fine form to
score 56 before getting stumped by McCullum off
Jeetan Patel. The off spinner Jeetan Patel had
taken two wickets in an over which was of two
set batsmen Mahela Jayawardene and Upul Tharanga.
Jayawardene after scoring 48 had holed down to
long on as he stepped down the track to hit out
Jeetan Patel. Kumar Sangakkara and Marvan
Atapattu with scores of 19 and 10 respectively
were the two unbeaten batsmen who saw SL to
victory.
Shane Bond who was brought back into the team
after an injury was taken for plenty of runs as
Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga got stuck
into his bowling in his first spell. Bond had
bowled 4 overs in his first spell which was
taken for 36 runs. He was also smashed for the
only six of the game by Sanath Jayasuriya over
covers. Jayasuriya was the first man out after
he was unlucky to be given out caught behind off
Kyle Mills after blasting his way to 20. Even
replays were inconclusive of whether Jayasuriya
had got a nick or not.
Earlier in the afternoon, New Zealand got a
major setback as they lost their last match hero
Stephen Fleming leg before the wicket to
Chaminda Vaas for a duck. The pitch had
quickened up and the batsmen at times were slow
in reacting. New Zealand were off to a sticky
start on a sticky wicket and the batsmen became
rather anxious to get a move along. Lou Vincent
was one such anxious batsman looking to play a
big pull shot and getting foxed by a slower leg
cutter from Farveez Maharoof. The Kiwis had
included Scott Styris in this match along with
Bond but the former couldn’t make any difference
to the side this time as he got a faint edge in
his cut shot off Jayasuriya to Sangakkara. It
was Muralitharan who got into his groove now and
once he got his big turning offies along with
the doosras, it was just matter of time before
the Kiwis fell apart.
Murali’s first wicket was Oram who was bowled
round his legs failing to read a doosra from
over the stumps. Next to go was Astle who was
one of the players who had to be faulted for New
Zealand’s defeat. Astle after getting his eye in
and after scoring 42 played a needless sweep
shot in the air with two men in the deep and his
sweep went straight to Lasith Malinga at deep
mid wicket. We were in for an early finish with
New Zealand at 118 for 9. But Daniel Vettori who
had come at the fall of the 7th wicket played
sensibly well and his partner Jeetan Patel
wasn’t bad against the Sri Lankan spinners. Both
these two added 47 runs before Jeetan Patel was
finally out attempting to play an attacking shot
in the final over of the innings bowled by
Lasith Malinga. Vettori for his efforts was the
highest scorer with 46 not out which had five
boundaries.
Muttiah Muralitharan had bowled his 10 overs
conceding 23 runs besides taking four wickets to
end up with the Man of the Match award.
Jayasuriya was equally impressive taking two for
26 in his 10. Chaminda Vaas who had a good start
in providing his team with the big wicket of
Fleming lost his way in the end as he went for
19 runs in his 9th over which was the 49th of
the innings.
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