T20I – Sri Lanka Lose Despite Dilshan’s Brilliance

Jacob Oram celebrates the wicket of Nuwan Kulasekera, Sri Lanka v New Zealand, 1st Twenty20, Colombo, September 2, 2009

With only 142 needed for a win, the Sri Lankan side had raced off to 67/2 in less than seven overs, and needed only 75 runs in 13 overs for a win with eight wickets standing. A walk in the park? Not when you have a middle-order like the Lankans’ in this game. It capitulated like nine pins and there was not a single player who could guide the team to a victory after the Dilshan blitzkrieg (57 off 28 deliveries).

Earlier, the Kiwis had scraped their way up to 141 as well. Again, it was a one-man show, with Ross Taylor taking up the attack to the Lankan spinners. He smashed a 45-ball 60, but there was only Martin Guptill to support him with an innings of 29. Jesse Ryder was the only other batsman to get to double figures with a 13 to his name!

Daniel Vettori who had successfully throttled the Sri Lankan side with figures of 4-0-11-2, was awarded the man-of-the-match award. The second and the last game of the series will be played at the same ground.

Lasith Malinga cleans up Daniel Vettori, Sri Lanka v New Zealand, 1st Twenty20, Colombo, September 2, 2009

Malinga Bandara is congratulated for his catch to remove Jesse Ryder, Sri Lanka v New Zealand, 1st Twenty20, Colombo, September 2, 2009