He does it! It was full and outside leg, Sangakkara, who has maintained a monk like patience today, swings it past the short fine-leg fielder.
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 39th Match, Super Eights at St George's, Apr 12 2007 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
39th Match, Super Eights, St George's, April 12, 2007, ICC World Cup
219/7
(45.1/50 ov, T:220) 222/4
Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets (with 29 balls remaining)
New
SL
Full commentary
Pretty clinical from Sri Lanka. No drama, no urge to indulge in showmanship. No frantic hitting. There was no need. 220 was not a stiff target and they jogged home. Two more points. New Zealand have tasted defeat for the first time in the tournament.
Ranatunga, sitting in a television studio, is not quite thrilled with the way SL approached the chase. " I am a bit disappointed with the way they played. They should have struck to their usual aggressive game." He would have liked to see the likes of Jayasuriya playing more aggressively. Well.... you can't please everyone.
Sangakkara had said on the eve of the game: "Most of the times we've gone wrong, we've tried to change our game, but we've realised that's a bit foolish. When we won the World Cup we played a unique brand of cricket and that's how we play now against any side"
I guess they would have played that way but here they were chasing a small target and must have felt there was no need to up the ante.
This is Sriram Veera, signing off. Adios.
45.1
4
Gillespie to Sangakkara, FOUR runs
3rd Powerplay is on! Will Sangakkara be tempted now?
end of over 454 runs
SL: 218/4CRR: 4.84 • RRR: 0.40
Kumar Sangakkara65 (103b 2x4)
Tillakaratne Dilshan14 (24b)
Jacob Oram 6-0-31-1
Daniel Vettori 10-0-35-2
44.6
1
Oram to Sangakkara, 1 run
McCullum shouts 'Catch' as Sangakkara drives on the up and it flies over the outstretched hands of Oram.
44.5
•
Oram to Sangakkara, no run
lands on a length, around off stump, defended back down the track
44.4
1
Oram to Dilshan, 1 run
And pigs will fly. He just leans forward, drives to long-on for yet another single. Very clinical.
Four to get. Will Dilshan get the itch to finish it off in a single blow?
44.3
1
Oram to Sangakkara, 1 run
on the off and middle, punched down the ground
44.2
1
Oram to Dilshan, 1 run
fullish, outside off stump, driven to sweeper cover
44.1
•
Oram to Dilshan, no run
full in length, on the off stump line, partly edged, partly steered to point
end of over 444 runs
SL: 214/4CRR: 4.86 • RRR: 1.00
Tillakaratne Dilshan12 (21b)
Kumar Sangakkara63 (100b 2x4)
Daniel Vettori 10-0-35-2
Jacob Oram 5-0-27-1
43.6
1
Vettori to Dilshan, 1 run
quicker, flatter, on the off and middle, square-driven to deep point
43.5
1
Vettori to Sangakkara, 1 run
Deja-vu. Few steps down the track and a drive down the ground.
43.4
1
Vettori to Dilshan, 1 run
tossed-up, inviting Dilshan to have a go but he comes down the track and pushes it along the ground to long-off. It looks like Sangakkara's chat has paid off.
43.3
•
Vettori to Dilshan, no run
on the off stump line, driven down the track.
Sangakkara takes out his gloves, adjusts his helmet and dons the gloves back.
43.2
•
Vettori to Dilshan, no run
on the middle stump line, pushed back to Vettori
43.1
1
Vettori to Sangakkara, 1 run
floated on the off stump line, Sangakkara reaches the pitch of the delivery and sends it down to long-off
end of over 436 runs
SL: 210/4CRR: 4.88 • RRR: 1.42
Kumar Sangakkara61 (98b 2x4)
Tillakaratne Dilshan10 (17b)
Jacob Oram 5-0-27-1
Daniel Vettori 9-0-31-2
42.6
1
Oram to Sangakkara, 1 run
slower one, pushed it outside off stump, Sangakkara is sucked into a square-drive, runs off the outer edge, in the air, through the vacant gully region, down to third man region
42.6
1nb
Oram to Sangakkara, (no ball)
fulller, on the off and middle, deflected to midwicket. Another no ball. 26 extras.
42.5
•
Oram to Sangakkara, no run
comes in from outside off stump, Sangakkara gets behind the line, pushes back to the bowler.
42.4
1
Oram to Dilshan, 1 run
Another single. This time to long-on.
42.3
1
Oram to Sangakkara, 1 run
hit on the up, to long-off. They are doing it in singles here.
42.2
1
Oram to Dilshan, 1 run
slightly slower, on the off stump line, Dilshan waits, cuts it to deep point
42.1
1
Oram to Sangakkara, 1 run
on the off stump line, punched to long on