COLOMBO, June 21: Sensible batting by the Sri Lankan top order led by in-form Marvan Atapattu complemented the fine showing by the spinners as the hosts notched up an easy seven wicket win over New Zealand in the three-nation Independence Cup Cricket Tournament at the Premadasa Stadium here today.A second successive half-century by man-of-the-match Atapattu (83 -- 118b) and useful contributions from Sanat Jayasuriya (57) and Aravinda de Silva (42) helped Sri Lanka reach 201 for three in 40 overs after economical bowling by the spinners restricted the Kiwis to 200 for nine in 50 overs.Earlier leg break bowler Upul Chandana (3/24) and off-spinners Kumara Dharmasena (3/40) and Muttiah Muralitharan (24/1) completely shackled the Kiwi batsmen despite Kiwis made a steady start after opting to bat on a good batting track.
SCOREBOARD
NEW ZEALAND: Bryan Young c Chandana b Dharmasena 55, Nathan Astle b Muralitharan 33, Stephen Fleming run out 47, Matt Horne st Kaluwitharana b Dharmasena 1, CraigMcMillan c Muralitharan b Chandana 26, Chris Cairns c Atapattu b Chandana 7, Adam Parore c Kaluwitharana b Chandana 1, Chris Harris b Dharmasena 7, Dion Nash run out 1, Daniel Vettori not out 4, Shayne O'Connor not out 6;
Extras: (lb9, w3) 12.
Total: (for 9 wickets in 50 overs) 200
Fall of wickets: 1-71, 2-107, 3-112, 4-169, 5-171, 6-176, 7-179, 8-186, 9-189.
Bowling: Wickremasinghe 6-0-35-0, Bandaratilake 10-0-41-0, Dharmasena 10-0-40-3, Muralitharan 10-1-24-1, Jayasuriya 7-0-27-0, Chandana 7-1-24-3
SRI LANKA: Sanath Jayasuriya c McMillan b Vettori 57, Romesh Kaluwitharana hit wicket b O'Connor 2, Maravan Atapattu not out 83, Aravinda de Silva b Astle 42, Arjuna Ranatunga not out 4;
Extras: (b4, lb5, w4) 13.
Total: (for 3 wickets, 40 overs) 201.
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-85, 3-180.
Bowling: O'Connor 4-0-21-1, Nash 6-0-25-0, Cairns 5-0-24-0, Harris 0-0-50-0, Vettori 8-0-41-1, McMillan 4-0-29-0, Astle 3-2-2-1
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
