Thisara heroic in vain as New Zealand clinch series

New Zealand 319 for 7 (Taylor 90, Munro 87, Neesham 64, Malinga 2-45) beat Sri Lanka 298 (Thisara Perera 140, Gunathilaka 71, Sodhi 3-55) by 21 runs

Mount Maunganui: New Zealand survived Thisara Perera’s remarkable onslaught that saw the burly Sri Lankan allrounder clobber 140 runs in just 74 balls to claim a 21-run win in the 2nd ODI at Mount Maunganui on Saturday, thus sealing the three-match series 2-0 with one more match to go.

Coming in to bat when Sri Lanka were reeling at 128/6, chasing 320 to win, Perera added 75 runs for the eighth wicket with Lasith Malinga (17), 51 runs with Lakshan Sandakan for the ninth wicket before adding another 44 with the last wicket Nuwan Pradeep.

However, Perera was the last wicket to fall when caught at long on by Trent Boult off the bowling off Matt Henry.

Ross Taylor and Colin Munro carried New Zealand to 319 for seven batting first in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka at Mount Maunganui on Tuesday.

Both were run out pushing the pace – Taylor for 90 and Munro 87.

Jimmy Neesham, who slayed the bowling two days ago with 47 off 13 deliveries, again lit up the tail with 64 off 37 before he too was run out.

New Zealand won the first match by 45 runs, but on the same wicket two days later the runs were harder to get.

After first match centurion Martin Guptill went for 13 and Kane Williamson was out for one, Taylor and Munro put on 112 for the third wicket.

Taylor then added 57 for the next wicket with Henry Nicholls (32). Lasith Malinga was the pick of Sri Lankan bowlers with two for 45.