By Leonard Ratnayake
In a tournament, where not much was expected other than to bat out the 50 overs and to enjoy playing their game of cricket to their best of performances, Sri Lankan cricketers yet again failed to deliver any hopes of a willingly improving cricketing outfit, as they stranded their captain in world cup opening match against New Zealand at Cardiff in Wales on Saturday.
New Zealand comfortably played their brand of cricket and sealed the match in 16.1 overs with none of the wickets down to a poor bowling and fielding attack by the Lankans.
Having lost the toss on a grassy wicket, Sri Lankan batsmen were forced to be cautious in their batting and the openers Lahiru Thirimanne and skipper Dimuth Karunarathna were expected to lay a good start for the innings. A reviewed LBW out decision on Thirimanna in the second ball of the innings once again showed his vulnerability in big games although accumulating lot of runs with experiences giving hopes for the selectors in the run-up matches.
Number three bat, Kusal Perera joined the skipper to launch the innings to a formidable score but Perera risked an unnecessary shot when he was on 29 in the 9th over and the scoreboard reading 46 for one. Thereafter quick wickets began to tumble around the skipper as both specialist batsmen Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews were out edging to the slip cordon for no runs. Dananjaya de Silva and Jeewan Mendis lived short as they added only 5 runs to the total. Sri Lanka was six down for 60 in the 16th over.
Schoolmate Thisara Perera then made an effort to assist his captain to start on a recovery mission but he too fell for 27 runs as the pair could add only 52 runs. Sri Lanka was bowled out for 136 runs in the 30th over with their captain Karunarathna stranded unbeaten on 52.
Kiwi seamers made use of the grass on the pitch to the maximum as Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson shared 3 a piece while Trent Boult and Collin diGrandhomme took one each.
In the reply innings, Sri Lankan bowlers showed no threat against the Kiwis who made it comfortably towards victory with their openers Martin Guptill and Colin Munrow both unbeaten on 73 and 58 respectively.
Much was expected from Sri Lankan paceman Lasith Malinga but he seemed to have gained extra kilos to overweigh for a paceman and showed no attacking attitude of his known brand of bowling as he was hit for 46 in five overs.
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