Black Caps’ skin-of-the-teeth escape act
Despite last-gasp heroics from Sir Lanka’s Thisara Perera, the Black Caps seal a series win, writes Ian Anderson.
A blockbusting knock from Thisara Perera, above, coupled with some woeful catching, took the gloss of what had previously been an impressive effort.
Rarely has a series win felt so flat.
New Zealand sealed an ODI series win over Sri Lanka in Mt Maunganui last night but a blockbusting knock from Thisara Perera, coupled with some woeful catching, took the gloss off what had previously been an impressive effort.
Perera slammed an incredible 140 from 74 balls to get the tourists within 21 runs of New Zealand’s 319-7.
He turned what was going to be a Black Caps romp into a nailbiting finale until falling to a desperate diving catch by Trent Boult in the 47th over.
Earlier, Colin Munro’s 87 equalled the left-hander’s best ODI score and it could have been much more, if not for a run-out mix-up with Ross Taylor in the 26th over.
New Zealand also got strong contributions with the bat from Taylor (90) and Jimmy Neesham (64 from 37 balls).
Chasing another stiff target, Sri Lanka faltered as legspinner Ish Sodhi snared 3-55 off his full complement of 10 overs.
Sodhi found a marvellous rhythm, hitting a sweet length and line and his figures were only spoiled by some late hitting from all-rounder Perera when all seemed lost for Sri Lanka.
He reached his maiden ODI ton off only 57 balls and wasn’t finished by any means. He struck 13 sixes and eight fours in a magnificent display of clean hitting.
There was an early bounce about New Zealand’s display with the ball and in the field but they blotted their copybook awfully with some glaring late dropsies.
Skipper Kane Williamson surprised all by introducing himself to the bowling crease in the 11th over of Sri Lanka’s reply and it should have proved a masterstroke.
However, a short wide one first up that was cut aerially by Danushka Gunathilaka was dropped at backward point by Henry Nicholls.
Kusal Perera, who looked a million dollars on Thursday night, resembled a long-gone two cent piece yesterday before departing to Matt Henry for four off 23 balls.
Sodhi pegged back the Sri Lankan scoring rate initially and then further hindered the chance of a visiting victory when he and wicketkeeper Tim Seifert combined to remove the dangerous Kusal Mendis and when opener Gunathilaka (71 off 73 balls) departed in the following over to Neesham, the fans could have been excused for trying to beat the traffic.
When Chandimal failed to pick Sodhi’s wrong ’un, the game seemed over as a contest after 25 overs of Sri Lanka’s pursuit.
Despite Williamson’s protestations, most fans – and likely the players – see the three-game series against Sri Lanka, and the ODI matches to come against India and Bangladesh, as trials for the Black Caps squad selection for the World Cup starting in England at the end of May.
Munro, among the batsmen, needed a score most. He hit two fours and 12 sixes while always willing to take on the fieldsmen.
There was never going to be any doubt over Taylor’s inclusion, but the veteran sent another reminder that elite ODI form in 2018 may not be an outlier.
He made 90 from 105 balls after a rapid 54 on Thursday while Neesham – fresh off his 13-ball 47 not out – raced to 64 off 37 balls before becoming the innings’ third of four run-outs.
Sri Lanka had used seven bowlers by the 23rd over to try and restrict a New Zealand side which made 371-7 batting first on Thursday.
Thursday’s century-maker Guptill found 13 unlucky yesterday when he nicked a sharp-bouncing outswinger from Sri Lankan skipper Lasith Malinga in the fifth over – just when the visitors’ attack was again looking toothless.