At a time when Sri Lankan schoolboys are showcasing their prowess on the cricket field with authority and promise, the petted and pampered Sri Lanka team crashed mockingly to a shameful defeat, bowled out for 76 chasing New Zealand’s 274 in the first ODI in Auckland yesterday.
The Sri Lankans fell like nine pins from the second over of their target chase when opener Nuwanidu Fernando was run out for 4 followed by New Zealand’s little known paceman Henry Shipley grabbing the wickets of Kusal Mendis (0), Charith Asalanka (9) and Dasun Shanaka (0) in a fiery and bouncy spell.
Henry in the process missed a hat-trick after he took the wicket of Dasun Shanaka in a first-ball-duck scenario after Mendis used up 16 balls and was not able to make a run.
With opener Pathum Nissanka also dismissed cheaply for 9 falling victim to Shiply, Sri Lanka’s hopes of staging a revival were completely dashed when the veteran Angelo Mathews was trapped leg-before to paceman Blair Tickner for 18 made in 25 balls and the total standing at 46 for 6.
Sri Lanka was eventually out for 76 in less than 20 overs as a relatively depleted New Zealand team without some of their regular players successfully defended 274 after they were put into bat on a fast paced lively pitch.
New Zealand at one stage of their innings were struggling at 152 for 5 and recovered through their late order batting as Sri Lanka’s best white ball strike bowler Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva was thrashed for 67 runs in his 10 overs without a wicket.