NOTTINGHAM, June 16 (PTI): Ajantha Mendis spun a web around New Zealand as a clinical Sri Lanka stormed into the semifinal of the Twenty20 World Cup, thumping the Kiwis by 48 runs in a crucial Super Eight match here today.
Mendis (3/9) ran through New Zealand’s middle order to trigger a batting collapse as the Kiwis, in their pursuit of a 159-run victory target, were bundled out for 110 runs in 17 overs.
It was an abject batting capitulation by the New Zealand with just three batsmen — Martin Guptill (43 off 34 balls), Aaron Redmond (23) and Brendon McCullum (10) — managing double figures as their last eight wickets fell for just 48 runs.
Earlier opting to bat, Mahela Jayawardene struck an unbeaten 41 while Tillakaratne Dilshan’s made a classy 48 to help Sri Lanka post 158 for five on the board.
Defending the total, Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara’s experiment to start with Sanath Jayasuriya did not really click as Redmond got New Zealand off to a flier, picking up 14 runs of the third over.
Redmond clobbered Jayasuriya for three successive boundaries and then followed it up with a six over long-off.
But Isuru Udana struck gold in the next over, getting the crucial wicket of McCullum, caught by Jehan Mubarak.
Lasith Malinga then foxed dangerous Redmond with a slower full toss and Chamara Silva made no mistake to end the right-hander’s 13-ball stay.
Mendis then proved why he is regarded so highly in world cricket, getting the wickets of Ross Taylor (8) and Scott Styris (2) in his opening over to deal twin blows.
He foxed Taylor with his first ball of the match and Sangakkara completed an easy stumping and then disturbed Styris’ timber with the fourth delivery.
Guptill, however, carried on the fight single-handedly and hit Dilshan over the short long-off fence.
Udana struck in the last ball off the 13th over, clean bowling Jacob Oram and then Jayasuriya drived the final nail in New Zealand’s coffin, getting the vital wicket of Guptil caught by Angelo Mathews at deep backward square leg.
Mendis picked up his third wicket when he made Peter McGlashan to edge one straight to Mubarak at backward point.
As if it was not enough, Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills ran themselves out and then Daniel Vettori fell to Muttiah Muralitharan.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jun1709/Sports1
Mendis (3/9) ran through New Zealand’s middle order to trigger a batting collapse as the Kiwis, in their pursuit of a 159-run victory target, were bundled out for 110 runs in 17 overs.
It was an abject batting capitulation by the New Zealand with just three batsmen — Martin Guptill (43 off 34 balls), Aaron Redmond (23) and Brendon McCullum (10) — managing double figures as their last eight wickets fell for just 48 runs.
Earlier opting to bat, Mahela Jayawardene struck an unbeaten 41 while Tillakaratne Dilshan’s made a classy 48 to help Sri Lanka post 158 for five on the board.
Defending the total, Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara’s experiment to start with Sanath Jayasuriya did not really click as Redmond got New Zealand off to a flier, picking up 14 runs of the third over.
Redmond clobbered Jayasuriya for three successive boundaries and then followed it up with a six over long-off.
But Isuru Udana struck gold in the next over, getting the crucial wicket of McCullum, caught by Jehan Mubarak.
Lasith Malinga then foxed dangerous Redmond with a slower full toss and Chamara Silva made no mistake to end the right-hander’s 13-ball stay.
Mendis then proved why he is regarded so highly in world cricket, getting the wickets of Ross Taylor (8) and Scott Styris (2) in his opening over to deal twin blows.
He foxed Taylor with his first ball of the match and Sangakkara completed an easy stumping and then disturbed Styris’ timber with the fourth delivery.
Guptill, however, carried on the fight single-handedly and hit Dilshan over the short long-off fence.
Udana struck in the last ball off the 13th over, clean bowling Jacob Oram and then Jayasuriya drived the final nail in New Zealand’s coffin, getting the vital wicket of Guptil caught by Angelo Mathews at deep backward square leg.
Mendis picked up his third wicket when he made Peter McGlashan to edge one straight to Mubarak at backward point.
As if it was not enough, Nathan McCullum and Kyle Mills ran themselves out and then Daniel Vettori fell to Muttiah Muralitharan.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jun1709/Sports1
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