Jayasuriya rolls back time

Shining bright | New Zealand pay the ultimate price for resting their wily skipper Stephen Fleming

Sri Lanka opener slams 111 off just 82 as NZ were beaten with 10 overs to spare

A quickfire century by veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya propelled Sri Lanka to an easy seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in the opening one-day cricket international on Thursday. Jayasuriya hit 111 from just 82 balls as Sri Lanka overhauled New Zealand's respectable 285-8 — including an undefeated 128 from rookie Ross Taylor — with 10 overs to spare on an ideal batting surface at McLean Park.

Jayasuriya and fellow opener Upal Tharanga plundered the wayward attack, smashing 90 runs from the first 10 overs and hitting another 50 from the next five. The 37-year-old Jayasuriya showed no signs of age as he hit 12 fours and five sixes in his whirlwind innings.

James Franklin dispatched both openers in consecutive balls in the 25th over, bringing to an end the 201 run partnership. Jayasuriya was caught a few steps inside the backward point boundary and Tharanga offered a nick to wicketkeeper Brendon McCallum.

But Sri Lanka's victory was all but in the bag. Left arm spinner Daniel Vettori, standing in as skipper for a resting Stephen Fleming, was the only bowler to emerge with his reputation intact, finishing with 1-36 from eight overs.

Taylor and veteran Nathan Astle (83) provided the backbone of the New Zealand innings in a 151-run partnership, which at one stage appeared likely to set up a huge total. But New Zealand lost six wickets for 63 runs in the last 12 overs as the Sri Lanka's bowlers found the tight line which had eluded them earlier.

Source : DNAIndia.com