Lankan bowlers restrict New Zealand to modest 217

By: Divyanshu Bhard Updated Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:41 PM (IST)

A clinical display by the bowlers helped Sri Lanka bundle out New Zealand for a modest 217 in 48.5 overs despite Scott Stryis's fighting half-century, in the first semi-final of the cricket World Cup here today. Pace spearhead Lasith Malinga and spinner Ajantha Mendis, with three wickets each, were the wreckers-in-chief, while Muttiah Muralitharan finished with two salps as New Zealand's innings lacked the thurst needed to power them to a challenging total. Batting first after winning the toss, Styris struck 57 off 77 balls, an innings that was laced with five boundaries, before becoming Muralitharan's final ODI victim. The match at the Premadasa stadium is the veteran off-spinner's final ODI on home soil. Apart from Styris, Martin Guptill contributed 39 while Ross Taylor made 36. New Zealand didn't set the stage ablaze and preferred to play safe at the start.

Posted By: Divyanshu Bhard

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