Sri Lanka demolish New Zealand to level series by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill
Scorecard:	New Zealand v Sri Lanka
Player:	NL McCullum, DL Vettori, KMDN Kulasekara
Event:	Pearls Cup 2010

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DateLine: 23rd May 2010

 

Sri Lanka avenged the humiliation in the first T20 match as they demolished the Kiwis that was ruthless. The bowling unit performed admirably and the batsmen this time around did not fluff their chance. New Zealand made a poor 81 in 17.3 overs and the Lankans in reply made 86 in 15.3 overs for the loss of three wickets.

 

Vettori with an attempt to put the Lankans under pressure elected to bat first and that was the only thing that went right for the Kiwis. The opening over was a quiet one but what followed was an absolute carnage. Kulasekara was the destroyer in chief as he trapped a static Redmond (1, 2b) right before the stumps before cleaning up McCullum (1, 2b) with a leg-cutter that was one of the best seen in recent times. The stunned New Zealand camp received another jolt in the very next ball as Nicol (0, 1b) played all around to a straighter one from Kulasekara and was trapped leg before. The scorecard showed 4 for 3 in 2 overs and just when the Kiwis thought that it could not get worse it did. Taylor (5, 5b, 1x4) was trapped leg before by Mathews and once Hopkins (1, 8b) was run-out the scorecard showed a numbing 13 for 5 in 4.5 overs.

 

Skipper Daniel Vettori (27, 24b, 2x4) and Nathan McCullum (36 not out, 39b, 2x4) put on 45 in 6.1 overs to try and get the Kiwi score past the 100 run mark. Once Vettori was given caught behind the Kiwi innings nose-dived spectacularly as they were shot out for a paltry score of 81 in 17.3 overs.

 

The Lankan chase got off to a steady start and though they lost Jayawardene (17, 12b, 1x6, 2x4) they were in no real danger. Dilshan (32 not out 42b, 2x4) and Perera (24, 17b, 1x6, 2x4) ensured that the Kiwis were never in the match with some smart cricket that had some lusty blows. The target of 82 was never going to cause any consternations to the Lankan side as they levelled the series with ease.