SCORECARD» I COMMENTARY»
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SRI LANKA Over: 85.5 II Score: 195/10 (Herath 6 *)
New Zealand have pulled off an emphatic victory by 167 runs. Southee and Boult picked up 3 wickets each and Bracewell picked up 2 wickets to lead New Zealand to a famous victory over Sri Lanka.
KMDN Kulasekara c Williamson b Boult 18 (63m 40b 1x4 2x6)
RMS Eranga c Williamson b Southee 0 (4b 0x4 0x6)
AD Mathews c Guptill b Boult 84 (228b 11x4 1x6)
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SRI LANKA Over: 80 II Score: 168/7 (Mathews 63*, Kulasekara 18*)
The Sri Lankan batsmen have put their foot on the accelerator and have hit some lusty blows. Victory though seems like an impossibility now. New Zealand are trying their best to break this partnership which could mean a win for the Kiwis.
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SRI LANKA Over: 72 II Score: 143/7 (Mathews 54*, Kulasekara 2*)
Angelo Mathews has reached his half century and is waging a lone battle against the Kiwis. New Zealand are pressing hard for another wicket.
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SRI LANKA Over: 66 II Score: 122/7 (Mathews 35*, Kulasekara 0*)
This is exactly what the Kiwis wanted. New Zealand have now picked up two quick wickets and Sri Lanka are struggling.
HAPW Jayawardene c van Wyk b Astle 29 (108b 2x4 0x6)
S Randiv c Guptill b Boult 0 (11b 0x4 0x6)
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SRI LANKA Over: 60 II Score: 117/5 (Mathews 32*, P Jayawardene 27*)
Runs have been hard to come by for the home side but they have not lost a wicket which is vital for the team’s cause of saving this match. New Zealand have built a lot of pressure on the batsmen by drying up scoring opportunities but have not been able to pick up a wicket as yet.
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SRI LANKA Over: 49 II Score: 107/5 (Mathews 27*, P Jayawardene 23*)
Sri Lanka go into Lunch at 107 for the loss of 5 wickets. Sri Lanka have lost the wicket of Thilan Samaraweera in the first session of play here on Day 5. New Zealand hold the upper hand as the two teams go in for Lunch. Sri Lanka will look to continue this partnership. The Kiwis will feel that one more wicket will increase their chances of folding up Sri Lanka and registering an outright win.
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SRI LANKA Over: 40 II Score: 93/5 (Mathews 23*, P Jayawardene 13*)
New Zealand are bowling a very good line and length and are not giving the Lankan batsmen any easy run scoring opportunities. Sri Lanka would be looking to have this pair in the middle as long as possible.
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SRI LANKA Over: 30 II Score: 74/5 (Mathews 11*, P Jayawardene 6*)
Terrible mix up between the two batsmen results in Samaraweera getting run out. New Zealand get the breakthrough they were looking for.
TT Samaraweera run out 7 (37b 1x4 0x6)
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SRI LANKA Over: 25 II Score: 63/4 (Samaraweera 7*, Mathews 6*)
Sri Lanka have managed to not lose wickets in the initial stages of Day 5. New Zealand are bowling well and Bracewell especially has looked very impressive. Samaraweera and Mathews have a big job to do for the Lankans.
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New Zealand have set the home team a target of 363 runs. Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell took two wickets each on the fourth day to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 47/4. Sri Lanka need another 316 runs with 6 wickets remaining to win the match.
First Published: Thursday, November 29, 2012, 09:45