By Brian Thomas
Winning the toss and batting first Sri Lanka out batted New Zealand by scoring a mammoth total of 324 runs for 5 wickets in 49.2 overs when rain spread its ugly wings to stop play around 6.30 pm t the Rangiri Dambulla stadium in the first of the 3 ODI matches yesterday.
The home team lost Pathum Nissanka early with the score on 17 as debutant Nathan Smith took a well judged catch at deep backward of point when Pathum mis timed an upper cut off Jacob Duffy who extracted extra bounce off a slow but good batting pitch , hence early shivers for the home team was evident , based on the fact that Pathum Nissanka is a valuable wicket in the power play overs from a Sri Lankan perspective.
The celebration by the visitors was short-lived , as Avishka Fernando, who incidentally was under scrutiny with Kusal Mendis, stitched a partnership of 206 runs for the second wicket , with both batters recording their 4th ODI century in front of the home crowd executing exquisite stroke play against a weak bowling attack that looked impressive during the recently concluded T 20 series. Kusal Mendis recorded his highest individual score of 145 , which is the highest by any Sri Lankan batter against New Zealand, whilst Avishka Fernando made a stroke filled 100 displaying his rapatua of strokes to all parts of the park. Kusal Mendis was fantastic in his positive attitude. His 143 was not only breathtaking but displayed his immense talent as a player.
The match winning partnership came to a halt with Fernando being caught at deep mid on by William Young, off the bowling of Ish Sodhi, the leg spinner who was cratered to all parts of the park. With a score on 223 for 2 wickets, one might have anticipated a change in the batting order , expecting Kamindu Mendis to bat at number 4. The think tank had different ideas. They opted for Sadeera Samarawickrema, who had been struggling in recent times, and he had another disappointing outing out for 5 caught by Ish Sodhi at short mid wicket for 5 runs , and he conceded his wicket to off spinner Michael Bracewell with Sri Lanka on 238. Charith Asalanka, who is in supreme form, joined our man of the day Kusal Mendis.
The right-hand left-hand combination was a breath of fresh air . The pair stitched another valuable partnership, and Sri Lanka reached the horizon of a 300-plus score when Mendis was ultimately dismissed for a well-made 143 with the home team total on 291 , with more runs to be added. Janith Liyanage and Charith Asalanka had a run feast against a tired sloppy Kiwi bowling unit until Mother Nature opened her spread. Asalanka was out for 40 , and the innings break was inevitable as the covers were rushed in by the ground staff. Jacob Duffy took 3 for 41 , Bracewell 1 for 73 , debutant Nathan Smith, conceeding 66 off his 8 overs , whilst Santner looked the most impressive 53 runs conceded wicketless in his spell. Ish Sodhi was disappointed to state the least he was taken to the cleaners . He conceeded 62 runs and only had the scalp of a tired Avishka Fernando. The golden arm of Glenn Philips introduced late into the attack surprisingly went without a scalp conceding 23 runs in 4 overs.
The visitors were set a target of 221 in 27 overs , and as play resumed at 9 pm. Tim Robinson, the ODI debutant, and Will Young looked very impressive . With the wet seam due to the wet outfield , the target looked with reach. 88 runs on the board in 13.2 overs with the Sri Lankan bowling looking weak due to the wet ball. The visitors looked favourites to win the game. The drinks break made a massive impact as Mahesh Theekshana scalped both set batters Tim Robinson for 35 , and Will Young for 48. Tim Robinson walked down the pitch to be stumped by Mendis, whilst William Young played for the turn by misjudging the Theekshana straight delivery and only heard the sound of his timber. The Kiwis had pressed the decent button and ended their run chase on 175 runs for 9 wickets, conceding a comprehensive loss by 45 runs.
The middle order batters barring Michael Bracewell, who made an unbeaten 35 struggled against not only the seam of Asitha Fernando but the spin of Theekshana. Vandersay and even the gentle off spin of Asalanka. Surprisingly, Madushanka, who was expensive in his first spell, scalped 3 wickets for 35 after he started bowling back of a length in his final spell. The catch of the day was by Mahesh Theekshana. The right arm mistry spinner displayed a mistry grab when he had a fantastic catch taken at short mid wicket to see the back of the dangerous Mark Chapman. Great day for Sri Lanka
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