The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Sri Lankans have Kiwis in knots

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 13, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Sri Lankans have Kiwis in knots

— Photo: AFP

BOWLER'S DELIGHT: Chamara Silva stretches to take a catch to dismiss Craig McMillan.

St. George's (Grenada): Scott Styris stood firm between Sri Lanka and a potential batting collapse as New Zealand creaked along to 110 for four after 30 overs. Styris was unbeaten on 61.

Styris and opener Peter Fulton were forced to play out the Power Plays cautiously after Chaminda Vaas had prised out Stephen Fleming and Ross Taylor for ducks.

Stephen Fleming's horror run against Sri Lanka extended to Thursday's match and he will dread playing the same team should both make the semifinals, as expected.

He averages less than 20 in 32 matches against Sri Lanka, including this one; he was out for a duck yet again to Chaminda Vaas — the seventh time he has fallen to the left-arm seamer.

This time he was out leg before — a close decision, because although the ball was shaping up to hit off, the point of impact was just outside the line.

Taylor edged one to Sangakkara who pulled off a splendid diving effort.

Just when New Zealand appeared to have seen off Vaas without sustaining further damage, the bowler had Fulton whipping one to deep square-leg.

In a second double strike, Muttiah Muralitharan foxed the dangerous Craig McMillan into top-edging to the left of short fine leg. New Zealand, at this stage, looked in some trouble, and a total of 200 seemed beyond reach.

New Zealand recalled batsman Ross Taylor, who'd missed New Zealand's last four games, in place of Hamish Marshall and called up Mark Gillespie in place of off-spinner Jeetan Patel.

Sri Lanka was without fast bowler Lasith Malinga, his place taken by Farveez Maharoof.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport