SL NZ T20I 1: Visitors Fight Hard to Steal Show

Sreelata YellamrazuSep 2 2009

Two final overs with a plausible hattrick. The first Twenty20 International match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka saw a dramatic swing in fortunes in a pulsating contest.

ross taylor shane bond

The way Tillekeratne Dilshan smashed Shane Bond for four consecutive boundaries in his first over, it appeared the visitors had been steamrolled. However, how it ended would not have pleased Sri Lanka at all.

dilshan bond

Shane Bond was returning after two years of being out of New Zealand reckoning with his ICL ties. In his first, much anticipated, match for New Zealand since, Bond appeared to have suffered a massive blow and in that, New Zealand were going to be let down by the very man their captain, Daniel Vettori, was counting most on.

But chasing proved quite another ordeal for Sri Lanka after the Dilshan blitzkreig for fifty-seven runs off just twenty-eight balls. But once New Zealand fought through with crucial breakthroughs, it all began to unravel for Sri Lanka.

Earlier in the match, New Zealand had little to write home about apart from Ross Taylor's forty-five ball sixty and to an extent, Martin Guptill's twenty-nine runs. Lasith Malinga's two wickets in two balls in the final over restricted New Zealand to 141.

ross taylor3

Thought an even contest with an on par target, Dilshan was making light of the challenge in a way that would have had more teams having the shoulders of their players drooping. But it was not be for New Zealand who brought the match to an even keel to four down for seventy-four with Dilshan's wicket going to Ian Butler.

But Jesse Ryder played an important part to with a direct hit to run out Mahela Jayawardene and a splendid catch that sent back Dilshan. Sanath Jayasuriya was the first to depart but with Dilshan on song, there were fewer worries.

Once New Zealand saw the back of Dilshan, they also saw light at the end of the tunnel. The wickets thereafter kept coming even as the asking rate was about a run a ball. It was Angelo Matthews' wicket then that gave New Zealand the extra edge and they took it.

Jacob Oram brought the game decisively in New Zealand's favour even as Sri Lanka needed nine runs from six balls with three wickets in hands. Two wickets in two balls, a plausible hattrick later, New Zealand won by the most delicate of margins, by three runs, but emphatic as the match wore on.

Vettori, the Smartest Spinner in Town?

Sl NZ T 2 Day 5: Sri Lanka win but New Zealand Fight

Sl NZ T 2 Days 1 &2 Stumps: Not Encouraging for the Visitors

Murali Chucks, Suggests Richardson

Bond Named in New Zealand's ICC Champions Trophy

Daniel Vettori, Andy Moles Now on Selection Panel

Sl NZ T1 day 5: NZ Succumb, SL Have it Easy

NZ Cricketers Down with Unhappy Belly

SL NZ T1 Day 3 Stumps: NZ Fail to Dig Deeper

SL NZ T1 Day 2: Samaraweera Stretches SL, NZ in Scrape

SL-NZ T1 Day 1 Stumps: NZ in Tough Grind After Early Breakthrough

Trip to the IOB Site 3: Mumbles, Jumble of the Four Letter Kind