Sri Lanka thrash Kiwis to take 3-0 series lead

Captain Jayasuriya smashed 10 fours and six sixes as he raced to his 10th one-day international century off just 76 balls — his second fastest — before being caught on the boundary for 103. Attapattu and Kumar Sangakkara then led Sri Lanka home, with Attapattu bringing up his 28th one-day half-century in 78 balls, including four fours and one six. He finished not out on 59.

In contrast to the Sri Lankans, the Kiwi batsmen struggled in their innings and were bowled out in 45.4 overs after rain had delayed the start of play and reduced the match to 47 overs each. The best partnership was 52 for the third wicket between Nathan Astle (33) and top scorer Craig McMillan (61). After that stand was broken, wickets fell regularly until last batsman Chris Martin was bowled by Dilhara Fernando.

Kumar Dharmasena was the pick of the Sri Lanka bowlers with three for 33 and his dismissal of McMillan brought up his 100th one-day wicket.

NZ confidence shattered
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said his team’s crushing nine-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in Auckland on Tuesday reflected a total loss of confidence and had left him “questioning everything I stand for in the game.”

Fleming said the mood in the changing room after the defeat was one of the worst he had experienced in his time at the helm. “Our defeat today reeked of tentative decision-making,” he said. “We are completely lacking in confidence. We didn’t get anything going today and when we were batting and there was a wicket, it wasn’t just jitters in the team, it was shock waves.

“I have never been in this position before. I am questioning everything I stand for in the game. Things are weighing particularly heavy on me and I’ve got to get over that,” he said, but added he would not consider giving up the captaincy.

Despite the heavy loss, New Zealand will take the same squad of 13 players to Hamilton for the fourth match in the series. Roger Twose will come into the starting 11 for opener Mathew Sinclair if his sprained thumb continues to respond to treatment, and Tuesday’s 12th man Daryl Tuffey may replace James Franklin.

“We don’t intend to over-react and panic in this situation,” chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee said. “We have selected the best players available to us at the moment. Clearly we are not happy with the results, but we don’t see too many options at the moment.”

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have plenty of options. Skipper Jayasuriya said the tourists may give some second string players match experience given the series has already been won. “We want to play to win,” Jayasuriya said. “We also want to give everyone a go, but we’ll balance that out when we get to Hamilton.

“Nuwan Zoysa has bowled all through South Africa and no where, and he could do with a rest, but he is bowling really well and to be honest, we’re not sure whether to risk it.”

Jayasuriya was superb in his innings. He scored his century off just 76 balls, hitting 10 fours and six sixes and was out, caught on the midwicket boundary, trying for his seventh. While happy with his innings, Jayasuriya was also pleased opening partner Attapattu had come into some form. “I was really happy that Marvan made some runs,” he said. “He and I play a different game and we look at him to perhaps bat for 50 overs. He is a potential match winner.”

NEW ZEALAND:M Sinclair b Zoysa 5; N Astle c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 33; S Fleming c Muralitharan b Vaas 9; C McMillan b Dharmasena 61; L Vincent c Jayasuriya b Dharmasena 17; J Oram c and b Muralitharan 11; C Harris run out (Sangakkara) 8; A Parore c Sangakkara b Vaas 2; D Vettori not out 17; J Franklin b Dharmasena 4; C Martin b Fernando 1; Extras (w4, nb5, lb4): 13; Total (all out, 45.4 overs): 181
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-22, 3-74, 4-106, 5-127, 6-151, 7-154, 8-159, 9-165.
Bowling: Vaas 8-2-32-2, Zoysa 7-1-13-1, Fernando 5.4-0-33-1, Muralitharan 10-2-41-2, Jayasuriya 5-0-25-0, Dharmasena 10-1-33-3.

SRI LANKA:S Jayasuriya c Oram b Harris 103; M Attapattu not out 59; K Sangakkara not out 13; Extras (w7): 7; Total (for 1 wkts, 29.5 overs): 182
Fall of wicket: 1-158.
Bowling: Martin 6-0-26-0, Franklin 4-0-38-0, Oram 3-0-16-0, Vettori 7-0-44-0, McMillan 4-1-25-0, Harris 5.5-0-33-1
Result : Sri Lanka won by nine wickets. Sri Lanka lead the best of five series 3-0.