Group B is turning quickly into a group of upsets in the ICC Champions Trophy. New Zealand pulled off a dramatic victory over Sri Lanka, and really repeated the dose to Sri Lanka what they did to South Africa but at Centurion.
nz fan
Kyle Mills was the chief destructor but for Sri Lanka, they let the match out of their control when they allowed New Zealand to not only get off to a good start but also, come back into the match in the latter half of their batting overs.
Sri Lanka did threaten to chase down New Zealand's 316 when Sanath Jayasiuriya and Tillekeratne Dilshan got off to an explosive start. Next to Jayasuriya's forty-one, only Mahela Jaywardene's innings of seventy-seven runs stood tall.
Sri Lanka lost both openers with a run separating them on sixty-six in the eighth over. Once Sri Lanka lost five overs by the twenty-five over (having scored 137), it had become obvious that chasing down the mammoth total and gaining the crucial two points would be out of their league on the day.
New Zealand survived the early explosion, stuck to their game plan and were amply rewarded. It was certainly a turn in fortunes for a team that has now beaten both, Sri Lanka, and India (albeit in a warm up match) to negate their Compaq Cup horrors. Apart from Shane Bond, all the New Zealand bowlers shared the spoils.
Group B now hinges delicately in the hands of England and New Zealand as Sri Lanka and South Africa would have expended their matches by the end of tonight.
CT SL V NZ Half Time: Injured Ryder Raises Team; NZ Win Could make it Interesting
CT Ind V Pak Full Time: India Lose Grip, Pakistan Have Their Revenge
CT Ind V Pak Half Time: Mallik Century Takes Pakistan to Strong Total
CT Aus v WI Full Time: West Indies Nearly Run Australia Out
CT Aus V WI Half Time: Johnson Destroys Windies' Effort
CT Ind V Pak Preview: Pak Win Toss, Elect to Bat First
CT Eng v SL Full Time: Collingwood Answers Critics with Match Winning Effort
CT New Zealand news: Oram Out, Franklin Called in
CT Ind v Pak: A Rare Clash on the Cards, What Do the Cards Foretell?
CT AUS v WI Preview: Bracken , Clarke Out, Ponting Worries for Future
Champions League Twenty20 Schedule
Champions League Twenty20: Teams Line Up For Feast
CT Eng v SL Half Time: England Bowlers Batter Sri Lanka
Kirsten Says Not Me, It was Paddy Upton
CT Sa V NZ Full Time: AB de Villiers Steers SA to Points Table
CT SA v NZ: Parnell, Van Der Merwe Peg New Zealand Progress
South African Murmurs About Centurion
CT PAK v WI Full Time: WI Bowlers Put Pak Under Duress
Yuvraj, Younis: Broken Fingers Across Borders
CT PAK v WI Half Time: Pak Bowlers Enjoy Workout
Kirsten's Mantra for India: Sex!
India Have Yuvraj Singh on Serious Injury List
ICC Champions Trophy Points Table and News in the Run Up
CT PAK v WI Preview: Shahid's Moment to Shine
CT SA v SL Full Time: Hosts Suffer Shock Defeat
CT SA v SL Half Time: Hosts Face Stiff Target
CT SA v SL Preview: SA Want Good Start, Despite Losing Gibbs
Rahul Slams Preparations, Defies Fears After Loss
CT Teams Group B-South Africa Want it More Than Any One Else
Related Stories
CT SA v SL Full Time: Hosts Suffer Shock Defeat
Sri Lanka not only changed their personal history in South Africa but also showed that South Africa was struggling to shake theirs as hosts. The ICC Champions Trophy Group B opening match threw up the first shock defeat with South Africa...
CT SL V NZ Half Time: Injured Ryder Raises Team; NZ Win Could make it Interesting
In a strong performance, New Zealand raised 315 in their first innings, but not without drama. Now a win against Sri Lanka here at the Wanderers, Johannesburg could make Group B a tight fisted battle in the ICC Champions Trophy. Jesse Ryder...
CT Sa V NZ Full Time: AB de Villiers Steers SA to Points Table
Once Wayne Parnell and Roelof vand er Merwe took care of New Zealand's batting, South Africa was steered away from the dangers of Shane Bond and Daniel Vettori by AB de Villiers. AB's seventy unbeaten runs proved pivotal for South Africa who...
CT NZ v Eng: New Zealand Stampede England for Semi Final spot
What drama to the finish. After making a dramatic start of their intention, New Zealand overcame a last minute situation mission to make the semi final spot from Group B. The ICC Champions Trophy saw Sri Lanka holding tight to their chairs...
Virat Kohli And Co. Enjoy Bike Ride before Formula One Racing ( See Pics)
Is it not known that the Indian cricketers can also love demons of speed? Even as some of the Indian cricket team will fly to Noida for the first Formula One Indian Grand Prix, they did enjoy bike rides, although not on the circuit, with the keys firmly w
