New Zealand push Sri Lanka to the brink

Sep 27, 2009

Brendon McCullum gave New Zealand a brisk start•Getty Images

Ryder pulled a muscle and needed a runner•Associated Press

That triggered a mini-collapse as New Zealand lost four wickets for 36 runs•AFP

Daniel Vettori however, led the fightback for New Zealand with a quick 48•AFP

...Guptill's 66 meant New Zealand finished on an impressive 315•Getty Images

Daryl Tuffey once again struck in his first over, dismissing Jayasuriya for 24•AFP

New Zealand kept chipping away, Franklin getting rid of allrounder Angelo Mathews•AFP

Jayawardene's dismissal came as huge relief to New Zealand; he was bowled by Vettori•AFP

He and Jesse Ryder brought up New Zealand's 50 in 40 balls•Associated Press

But he reached his half-century off 28 balls•AFP

Angelo Mathews removed McCullum for 46 and Grant Elliott for a duck•Getty Images

Martin Guptill provided strong support at the other end•Getty Images

Tillakaratne Dilshan got the Sri Lankan chase off to a breezy start•AFP

Kyle Mills then removed Dilshan. Both openers were back in the pavilion with the score on 67•AFP

Mahela Jayawardene set about reviving Sri Lanka after they were reduced to 141 for 6•AFP

Kulasekara fought hard with an unbeaten 57, but the task proved too daunting and New Zealand won by 38 runs•AFP

It was Nuwan Kulasekara who ended the 125-run opening stand by having Ryder edge behind for 74•Associated Press

While Sanath Jayasuriya dismissed Ross Taylor for 4 and Neil Broom for 15. He ended with figures of 3 for 39•AFP

Even though Jayasuriya accounted for Vettori, his third wicket...•AFP

He scored 41 off 31 balls as the opening stand reached 66 by the eighth over•AFP

James Franklin accounted for Kumar Sangakkara as Sri Lanka slipped to 85 for 3•AFP

He had New Zealand worried, as he made 77, and added 78 with Nuwan Kulasekara, in quick time•AFP