Astle blasts Black Caps to victory

Brendon McCullum and Stephen Fleming started the run chase at a rollicking pace, reaching 51 by the sixth over when Fleming drove at Dilhara Fernando and was caught by Chamara Kapugedera at point for 17.

Kapugedera ran out McCullum for 28 to put the brakes on the New Zealand scoring until Astle opened up, taking 15 off the penultimate over by Ruchira Perero to level the scores. In the next over, Astle sneaked a single off the third ball by Tillakaratne Dilshan to wrap up proceedings.

The tone of the game was set with the very first ball of the game when television technology detected Upul Tharanga edge James Franklin to wicketkeepr Peter McGlashan. It was such a faint edge that the players did not even appeal, not that it mattered much as Franklin bowled Tharanga two balls later. By the 10th over, Sri Lanka were in deep trouble at 58 for six and if it was not for a tail-end bash by Lasith Malinga and Fernando their innings may well have ended much earlier.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 115 all out Malinga 27, Franklin 3-23 lost to New Zealand 116/5 Astle 40 n.o, McCullum 28, Fernando 3-19