MASON HAS DONE IT he takes a step down and lofts it straight back over Jayasuriya's head for four, New Zealand have won by one wicket off the last ball!
New Zealand vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI at Queenstown, , Dec 31 2006 - Match Result
Take a bow James Franklin, his unbeaten 45 was one of the coolest and calmest innings you'll see in ODI day cricket, alongside the ones played by Inzamam, Lara and the like.
Sanath Jayasuriya bowled a fantastic last over defending just a paltry run. He managed five dot balls and no doubt gave several New Zealand fans heartburn. Credit to Michael Mason too for not panicking after playing five dot balls in the last over, credit to Mark Gillespie for digging out umpteen yorkers, credit to Kumar Sangakkara for scoring 89, the highest individual score at this venue. The series is now level at 1-1.
What a match to end 2006, it's been an eventful year and it could not have asked for a more fitting finish. Send us your comments.
Jayawardene says he thought Jayasuriya's experience and him being a left-arm bowler against a right-hand batsman would be a good ploy in the last over. Well he was very nearly right!
Vettori gives credit to Franklin, and it's well deserved. Franklin even played Murali with ease.
Man of the Match: James Franklin. No surprises there, he did everything right and it must have been just terrible watching Mason playing that last over from the other end after taking New Zealand to the threshold of victory. But Mason came through and Franklin's effort wasn't in vain.
Jamie and I have had a blast bringing this game to you. That's it from us at Cricinfo for 2006. Do tune in for the third ODI on January 2. Happy new year everybody. Cheers!
They have to run for anything now.
defended to mid-on, no run, unbelieveable stuff
high full toss, Mason swings and misses, pressure mounting
pushed to short fine leg, three left
defended to cover
full toss, defended back to the bowler
Jayasuriya to bowl the last over, Mason on strike, New Zealand need one run, Sri Lanka need one wicket. Everyone is in the circle.
bang in the blockhole, Franklin digs it out
defended to mid-on
Would you have bet on Vaas bowlign a wide? After all that ODI experience?
he bowls a wide!! that was very wide outside leg stump and New Zealand are level!
How are those finger nails doing? Crucially for New Zealand, Franklin crossed while the ball was in the air and he will be on strike. One wicket left, two runs to get. Mason at the non-striker's end. Vaas looks cool and composed.
caught! Gillespie top-edges a high full toss to Maharoof at mid-off, he's played extremely well till now but perhaps he thought he could have finished it off with a single blow
Jayawardene brings the field in.
the attempted yorker is dug out to mid-on for a single, two needed by New Zealand
New Zealand are on the verge ...
and again, played with an impeccably straight bat to long-on for two more
full ball on middle and leg, Franklin drives superbly down the ground for two more, just five needed now
Just seven needed now, and Jayaardene will be concerned about the boundaries too now, how many fielders does he keep in the circle? Vaas to continue.
driven down to long off for another single, Franklin keeps strike for the next over
Gillespie keeps out another searing yorker, he backed away and somehow keeps bringing his bat down in the nick of time, they run a single to point
New Zealand need 9 from 14.
another yorker fired into leg stump, Franklin gets an outside edge through mid-off for a single
another yorker, defended back to Malinga
New Zealand are ten away from victory.
shot! Four invaluable runs through midwicket, Franklin smashes a half-volley off the back foot between midwicket and wide long on
full ball outside off stump, Gillespie backs away and cuts, sort of cuts anyway, through the off side for a single
Three overs to go, New Zealand are 15 runs away from victory while Sri Lanka still need two wickets, stay tuned it's going to be exciting. Malinga begins his last over.
tight line on middle stump but Gillespie manages to turn it to square leg for one more
Queenstown Events Centre | |
Toss | New Zealand, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2006/07 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | 5-match series level 1-1 |
Match number | ODI no. 2469 |
Hours of play (local time) | 11.00 start, First Session 11.00-14.30 Interval 14.30-15.15, Second Session 15.15-18.45 |
Match days | 31 December 2006 - day (50-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |