Sri Lanka level series after Dilshan century

Cricket365
April 13, 2015

Sri Lanka leveled the substantial ODI series against New Zealand in Hamilton on Thursday, winning the second match by six wickets thanks to a century from veteran opener Tillakaratne Dilshan.

The Black Caps made 248 all out thanks in large part to a century from Brendon McCullum, though he wasn't supported at the other end as the Kiwis endured four runs outs and a stumping in the space of 36 runs.

The hosts won the toss and opted to bat, thinking they'd be able to set a big enough score to defend. They initially seemed to be on the money, as McCullum opened the batting and reached his fifty off 39 balls.

At the other end though, Tom Latham was out for five while Martin Guptill failed again and was removed for 10. McCullum and Ross Taylor then powered ahead, with the former scoring 117 of his side's 158 by the time he was removed.

The hosts did not take advantage of their skipper's efforts, collapsing dramatically with the entire middle order run out. Dan Vettori, Corey Anderson and Luke Ronchi were all run out for single figures, while Nathan McCullum was short of his ground for 13.

The tail did try to up the tally somewhat, with Adam Milne making 19 before being stumped off Sachithra Senanayake, while Matt Henry made 20 not out and Trent Boult was the last wicket to fall for 13.

The chase was smooth for the most part, as Dilshan held steady from the start. He and Dimuth Karunaratne added 64 for the first wicket in 13 overs, before the rookie was out for 21, trapped LBW by Nathan McCullum.

Dilshan batted at a steady pace, not needing to rush anything, as he and Kumar Sangakkara took the score into triple figures. Dilshan's half ton came off 58 balls. Sangakkara was out for 38 to Milne.

Mahela Jayawardene then joined his long-time colleague and they added 47 runs together, before Jayawardene was out for 27. Angelo Mathews joined in at that stage, and he and Dilshan knocked off 74 more runs.

Dilshan was out with just a few runs to go, having made 116, caught behind by Ronchi off Henry's pace bowling. Mathews finished the match on 39 not out, with Lahiru Thirminanne keeping him company on two.