September 20, 2009
A brace of three-wicket hauls from Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, along with a half-century from Mahela Jayawardene led Sri Lanka to a comfortable five-wicket victory in their warm-up match against West Indies in Pretoria. After conceding 306 runs against Pakistan on Friday, Sri Lanka's bowlers were more effective against a weak West Indies. Dale Richards and Devon Smith scored half-centuries but, apart from Darren Sammy, no one else got to double figures. They had reached a respectable 121 for 2 before Murali and Mendis went about dismantling the middle and lower order. Murali took 3 for 17 and Mendis claimed 3 for 31 as West Indies were bowled out for 201 in the 46th over.
Sri Lanka began the chase shakily, with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya falling within the first ten overs, but Jayawardene steadied the innings by scoring 67 before he was out hit wicket to Gavin Tonge. There were also useful contributions from Kumar Sangakkara (35) and Thilina Kandamby (44) not out and Sri Lanka reached the target in the 48th over.
Fresh off their meeting during the Compaq Cup in Sri Lanka, New Zealand turned the tables and pulled off an impressive 103-run victory against India at Potchefstroom. Martin Guptill (63) and Jesse Ryder (57) set a strong platform, adding 60 for the second wicket, before Neil Broom let loose. Broom smashed 66 off 46 balls, comprising five boundaries and four sixes, and figured in two crucial 40-plus partnerships with Grant Elliott and Daniel Vettori. The Indian fast bowlers were largely ineffective in the face of the onslaught with Yusuf Pathan ending as India's most successful bowler with 3 for 46.
Chasing 302, the Indian top order never capitalised on their starts. Abhishek Nayar provided some fight, scoring a quick 41, which included six fours. New Zealand shared the wickets around with Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori and Shane Bond taking two apiece, as India were bowled out in the 41st over.
An unbeaten 130 from Shoaib Malik guided Pakistan to a six-wicket victory against Warriors at Benoni. He added 110 with Mohammad Yousuf and 96 with Misbah-ul-Haq as the runs were knocked off with 19 balls to spare.
Posts
