Ranatunga assures final spot for Lanka

COLOMBO, July 5: Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga struck an entertaining 102 to guide Sri Lanka to a comfortable 87-run win over New Zealand for a f...

COLOMBO, July 5: Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga struck an entertaining 102 to guide Sri Lanka to a comfortable 87-run win over New Zealand for a final clash against India in the Independence Cup Triangular cricket tri-series today.

The islanders, put in by New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming, rattled up 293 for four in 50 overs and restricted New Zealand faced with an almost impossible task of making 294 in 41.3 overs at 7.08 an over to 206 in 39.1 overs.

Sri Lanka topped the group with eight points and will meet India in the day-night final to be played at the Premadasa Stadium here on July 7. India, who had sealed the summit clash with the best NRR, finished with six points while New Zealand went out of final reckoning with just four points gained from as many abandoned ties.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya c Cairns b Vettori 24, Romesh Kaluwitharana c Astle b Harris 54, Aravinda de Silva c Fleming b Harris 62, Arjuna Ranatunga c Fleming b McMillan 102, Upul Chandana not out 27, MarvanAtapattu not out 6; Extras lb6, w12 18.

Total for four wickets in 50 overs 293

Fall of wickets: 1-69, 2-92, 3-224, 4-282.

Bowling: Chris Cairns 7-0-52-0, Dion Nash 5-0-30-0, Daniel Vettori 10-0-53-1, Chris Harris 10-1-44-2, Paul Wiseman 6-0-32-0, Craig McMillan 7-0-38-1, Nathan Astle 5-0-38-0. New Zealand: B Young c Mahanama b Perera 3, N Astle c de Silva b Chandana 74, S Fleming c Dharmasena b Bandaratileke 20, C McMillan c Muralitharan b Bandaratileke 5, M Horne c Kaluwitharana b Muralitharan 4, C Cairns c Kaluwitharana b Jayasuriya 28, C Harris b Jayasuriya 2, A Parore not out 28, D Nash c Chandana b Muralitharan 3, D Vettori b Jayasuriya 0, P Wiseman c Dharmasena b Chandana 16; Extras lb10, w12, nb1 23.

Total all out in 39.1 overs 206

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-78, 3-86, 4-106, 5-152, 6-154, 7-163, 8-172, 9-176.Bowling: Perera 4-0-34-1, Bandaratileke 9-0-35-2, Dharmasena 2-0-24-0, Muralitharan 10-0-49-2, Jayasuriya 8-0-28-3, Chandana 6.1-0-26-2.