Srilanka beat New Zeeland

13/04/2007

Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten 69 to steer Sri Lanka to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in their Super Eight match at Grenada on Thursday.

Chasing 220 to win, Sri Lanka hit 222 from 45.1 overs to hand New Zealand their first loss at this World Cup.

Earlier, New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming won the toss and elected to bat. Scott Styris hit an unbeaten 111 to help them post 219 for seven after Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan troubled them no end at the beginning and then in the middle of the innings.

For Srilanka, Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara then put on 100 runs in 125 balls to build a strong platform for their team. Jayasuriya made 64 before he was caught behind by Brendon McCullum off a Jacob Oram delivery. His 80-ball knock included five fours and one six.

Score : New Zeeland 219/7 in 50 overs (Styris 111, Oram 31, Fulton 28, Franklin 25, Vaas 3/33, Murlitharan 3/32) Srilanka 222/4 in 45.1 overs (Sangakkara 69, Jayasuriya 64, Vettori 2/35, Oram 1/31)