Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, 4th Match at Colombo, , Jul 25 2001 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
4th Match, Colombo (RPS), July 25, 2001, Coca-Cola Cup (Sri Lanka)
(48.3/50 ov, T:237) 240/5

Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets (with 9 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
91* (116) & 2/22
russel-arnold
New
SL
Full commentary

Sri Lanka have pulled off a great win against the Kiwiws here at Colombo

Chasing 237 for a win, the Lankans were in all kind of problems, losing four top orser batsmen with just 27 runs on the board in 9 overs.

Marvan Atapattu (66) and Russel Arnold put together a brilliant partnership of 110 runs in 24.5 overs.

Atapattu was run out, going for a risky second, his desperate dive wasn't good enough to save him.

In the meanwhile Arnold kept the momentum going picking up singles and twos.

After the fall of Atapattu, Suresh perera walked in to the middle.

Though he called in the services of a runner, nothing could stop Perera from smashing the Kiwi bowling.

The victory came about in the 49th over, when Perera swung McMillan through long leg for a boundary.

McMillan finished with 3.3-0-35-0, easily the most expensive bowler and one wondered why he had to keep bowling himself.

The conditions were getting dark and the services of Daryl Tuffey (6-1-19-1) seemed to have been forgotten.

Arnold and Perera put together an unbeaten partnership of 103 runs in just 14.4 overs.

Sri Lanka were given an opportunity to win, they took it handsomely. Kiwis had their chances, somehow they managed to give it away to the Lankans.

Russel Arnold played a mighty role in this fantastic Sri Lankan win. He made an unbeaten 91 off 116 balls.

Arnold is the man of the Match too. Earlier in the day, Arnold picked up a wicket with the first ball of his the two spells he had.

Suresh Perera remained unbeaten on 56 made in 51 balls.

Sri Lanka now has 6 points after their third win. They are at the top of the table.

Tomorrow, India and New Zealand will battle it out, here, at the same venue

We will be back with you at 1000 Hrs Local time, 0930 IST, 0400 GMT tomorrow, with all the live action as it happens.

Kindly send in your comments/opinions to comms@cricinfo.com

Thank You and Good Evening from Colombo.

48.3
4
McMillan to Perera, FOUR runs

McMillan drops it short, Perera swings around, glorious pull shot, four runs to the long leg fence, it is all over! Sri Lanka win

48.2
1
McMillan to Arnold, 1 run

played around to long leg for a single. scores are level now

48.1
4
McMillan to Arnold, FOUR runs

lofted extra cover drive, what a shot! four runs! Arnold playing a blinder here

end of over 4811 runs
SL: 231/5CRR: 4.81 RRR: 3.00
Russel Arnold86 (114b 6x4)
Suresh Perera52 (50b 5x4)
Jacob Oram 7-0-38-0
47.6
1lb
Oram to Arnold, 1 leg bye

rapped on the pads, Jayawardene the runner calls Arnold through for a single, Yes, No, Stop, and all kind of stuff being conveyed to each other, what a terrible mix up, Oram kicks the ball on to the stumps, safe throughly for a leg bye

47.5
1
Oram to Perera, 1 run

short outside the off, played down to third-man for a single

47.4
Oram to Perera, no run

goes forward and plays it in defense

47.3
4
Oram to Perera, FOUR runs

glorious cover drive for four, that is his fifty!

47.2
4
Oram to Perera, FOUR runs

swings his bat, full circle, goes speeding to the point fence, four!

47.1
1
Oram to Arnold, 1 run

driven down the ground to long on, takes a single

end of over 4710 runs
SL: 220/5CRR: 4.68 RRR: 5.66
Russel Arnold85 (112b 6x4)
Suresh Perera43 (46b 3x4)
Craig McMillan 3-0-26-0

Another big over this for the Lankans

17 in 18, Arnold has made all the difference here

46.6
1
McMillan to Arnold, 1 run

plays wristily to deep mid-on, takes the single, keeps the strike

46.5
1
McMillan to Perera, 1 run
46.4
2
McMillan to Perera, 2 runs

hit away to deep mid-on, takes two, McMillan being hit all over the park

46.3
1
McMillan to Arnold, 1 run

driven through to the extra cover fence

46.2
4
McMillan to Arnold, FOUR runs

on the pads, McMillan's decision to bowl himself backfires! bang! the ball disppears to the long leg fence

46.1
1
McMillan to Perera, 1 run

full on the leg stump, driven firmly tolong on

end of over 469 runs
SL: 210/5CRR: 4.56 RRR: 6.75
Suresh Perera39 (43b 3x4)
Russel Arnold79 (109b 5x4)
Jacob Oram 6-0-28-0

27 needed off 24 balls. Sri Lanka could make it. A wicket is what New Zealand need here to put the brakes on

45.6
1
Oram to Perera, 1 run

swings his bat in full circle, ball goes down to the man at sweeper cover

45.5
Oram to Perera, no run

played right back to Oram

45.4
2
Oram to Perera, 2 runs

glorious extra cover drive, puts his foot forward and the full face of the bat

45.3
4
Oram to Perera, FOUR runs

slower ball, he waits on it, smack! over long on, one bounce, four!

45.2
1lb
Oram to Arnold, 1 leg bye

pitched outside the leg, hit on the pads, loud shout, batsmen take one

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SL64280.242
IND6336-0.229
NZ6244-0.012