By IANS
Johannesburg : Sanath Jayasuriya propelled Sri Lanka to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in a Twenty20 World Championship cricket match here Saturday, but both teams advanced to the second round.
Jayasuriya hammered a 44-ball 61, including six boundaries and three sixes, to help Sri Lanka overhaul New Zealand’s 164 for seven wickets in 20 overs. Sri Lanka finished at 168 for three in 18.5 overs, winning with seven balls to spare at the New Wanderers Stadium.
Upul Tharanga (37, 25 balls, 2x4s, 2x6s) and captain Mahela Jayawardene (35, 18 balls, 4x4s, 1×6) were the other main contributors with the bat for Sri Lanka while pacer Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga bowled accurately.
Earlier, after New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat, Ross Luteru Taylor (62, 42 balls, 3x4s, 3x6s) and Jacob Oram (33, 20 balls, 2x4s, 2x6s) led the charge for them.
However, as it was eventually proved, no score was challenging enough for Jayasuriya, who was adjudged the Man of the Match, and Jayawardane.
Sri Lanka finished their league engagements with two wins out of two matches for four points and New Zealand ended up with two points from their win over Kenya, who crashed out.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand, Twenty20 World Championship, at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg,
New Zealand:
L. Vincent c Silva b Fernando 14
B.B. McCullum c Malinga b Fernando 10
P.G. Fulton c Malinga b Wijekoon 25
R.L. Taylor c Sangakkara b Malinga 62
S.B. Styris lbw b Jayasuriya 2
C.D. McMillan run out (Silva/Malinga) 2
J.D.P. Oram not out 33
D.L. Vettori run out (Fernando/Wijekoon) 3
Extras: (b 1, lb 2, w 10) 13
Total: (for seven wickets in 20 overs) 164
Fall of wickets: 1-22 (McCullum, 3.6 overs), 2-25 (Vincent, 5.1), 3-95 (Fulton, 10.5), 4-97 (Styris, 11.3), 5-102 (McMillan, 12.5), 6-153 (Taylor, 18.5), 7-164 (Vettori, 19.6)
Bowling:
Chaminda Vaas 4 0 27 0
Dilhara Fernando 4 0 31 2 (1w)
Sanath Jayasuriya 4 0 25 1
Gayan Wijekoon 4 0 50 1 (2w)
Lasith Malinga 4 0 28 1 (1w)
Sri Lanka:
Upul Tharanga c Martin b Vettori 37
Sanath Jayasuriya c Fulton b Vettori 61
Kumar Sangakkara c Taylor b Styris 14
Mahela Jayawardene not out 35
Chamara Silva not out 9
Extras; (b 3, lb 8, w 1) 12
Total: (for three wickets in 18.5 overs) 168
Fall of wickets: 1-82 (Tharanga, 7.3 overs), 2-108 (Sangakkara, 12.4), 3-158 (Jayasuriya, 17.3)
Bowling:
Shane Bond 4 0 45 0
Chris Martin 3 0 23 0
Mark Gillespie 2.5 0 29 0 (1w)
Daniel Vettori 4 0 23 2
Scott Styris 3 0 16 1
Jacob Oram 2 0 21 0
Result: Sri Lanka won by seven wickets
Toss: New Zealand (chose to bat)
Points: Sri Lanka 2, New Zealand 0
Man of the Match: Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)
Umpires: Mark Benson (England) and Daryl Harper (Australia)
TV umpire: Nigel Llong (England)
Match referee: Chris Broad (England)