Alfaaz – The Words Exclusive
Srinagar: With largely fair weather in Bengaluru, despite predictions’ of inclement weather, New Zealand on Thursday ran over a largely off color Sri Lanka, to bring themselves closer to semis’ berth.
New Zealand opting to bowl first bundled out Sri Lanka for a paltry 171-run total. Things looked bright for Lanka as strike batter Kusal Perara went on to score gutsy 51 runs of mere 28 balls – and in the course scored the fastest fifty by an batter in the current edition. However once Kusal went to pavilion, the other batter struggled high time and fell in quick succession.
With Boult leading from the from taking three wickets, the other bowlers had a good share amongst themselves as Ferguson, Santner, Rachin took two wickets apiece with one from Southee.
Left reeling at 128-9, Theekshana and Madhushanaka took the team to 171 in 46.4 overs.
The openers Rachin and Conway pummeled the Lankan bowlers to bring their team close to the win. The Lankan bowlers showed their class, but it was too late for them to make the inevitable any different.
Interestingly despite forecasts’ of precipitation, the match wasn’t affected in any way.
With this win, the New Zealand has come close to book the only left out vacancy in Semis’ – and on the other hand sending Pakistan and Afghanistan virtually out of the contention. Pakistan need to beat England by about 300 runs to usurp NZ’s NRR. If England get to 150, Pakistan will have to chase the target in 3.4 overs.
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