The Hindu : Sport : Scott Styris saves New Zealand's blushes

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Friday, Apr 13, 2007
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Scott Styris saves New Zealand's blushes

— PHOTO: AFP

RESOLUTE: Scott Styris came to New Zealand's rescue with a gritty knock.

ST. GEORGE'S (Grenada): Scott Styris hit his fourth one-day century on Thursday to keep New Zealand in with a chance of winning its World Cup Super Eight match against Sri Lanka.

Styris hit 111 not out while the rest of the key batsmen struggled badly after a disastrous start.

Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan each took three wickets at the Grenada National Stadium to help limit New Zealand, which has been one of the in-form sides in the tournament, to 219 for seven wickets off 50 overs. Styris and James Franklin added an unbroken 64-run partnership in 55 balls.

Styris moved to third on the list of tournament run scorers, having come in with his team on four for two after Vaas removed Stephen Fleming and Ross Taylor in the first three overs.

New Zealand's total looked to be below par considering Sri Lanka has the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya in its batting line-up.

Fleming had won the toss and chose to bat. But the decision looked to be a poor one when Vaas dismissed the New Zealand captain and Taylor on his way to figures of three for 33.

Disastrous start

Vaas had Fleming trapped leg-before-wicket for nought with the fifth ball of the day, moving above India's Javagal Srinath to take sole possession of third place in the list of all-time World Cup wicket takers.

Taylor, who had replaced Hamish Marshall after missing four matches because of a hamstring strain, followed for nought off the second ball he received. He got a thick edge to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, who took a one-handed diving catch low to his right.

With Fleming having apparently misread the pitch, Sri Lanka was making light of the absence of injured pace bowler Lasith Malinga. He was replaced by Farveez Maharoof. — AP

Sri Lanka was 66 for one after 10 overs.

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand: P. Fulton c Silva Vaas 28, S. Fleming lbw b Vaas 0, R. Taylor c Sangakkara b Vaas 0, S. Styris (not out) 111, C. McMillan c Silva b Muralitharan 1, J. Oram c Maharoof b Dilshan 31, B. McCullum lbw b Muralitharan 1, D. Vettori c Silva b Muralitharan 5, J. Franklin (not out) 25; Extras (b-2, lb-2, w-8, nb-5) 17; Total (for seven wkts. in 50 overs) 219.

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-4, 3-71, 4-77, 5-141, 6-145, 7-155.

Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 9-2-33-3, Fernando 7-2-31-0, Maharoof 6-0-31-0, Muralitharan 10-0- 32-3, Jayasuriya 10-0-44-0, Dilshan 8-1-44-1.

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