Black Caps beat Sri Lanka by 108 runs in 5th ODI
January 23, 2015 11:15 am
A 360 for five buffer, including a world record sixth-wicket partnership, gifted New Zealand the fifth one-day international against Sri Lanka by 108 runs, despite a spirited chase.
The hosts have taken an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the seven-match series.
Century-maker Tillakaratne Dilshan kept the visitors in touch, easing to his 20th ODI century of 116 from 106 balls, but the pressure of chasing more than 10 runs an over became overwhelming. He exited with the score at 215 in the 37th over trying to loft a short ball from Mitchell McClenaghan over the offside; he spooned to Nathan McCullum at extra cover and a collapse precipitated.
The Sri Lankans faced sustained pressure after Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott stunned the visitors’ bowling attack and a packed University Oval with an unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 267 to guide New Zealand from adversity to assurance.
The stand overtook the 218 world record mark set by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Mahela Jayawardene playing for the Asian XI against the African XI in 2007 at Chennai.
After the hosts slumped to 93 for five after 20 overs, Ronchi and Elliott conjured the extraordinary recovery.
Ronchi savaged 170 off 99 balls, continuing the form he found to deliver 24 off the 48thover to help win the game in Nelson. It’s the highest score by a No.7 batsman in ODIs and fourth highest by a New Zealander.
Earlier, the hosts were sent in by Sri Lankan captain Thirimanne, who was standing in for Angelo Mathews as he nursed a calf muscle injury.
McCullum (25), Williamson (26), Taylor (20) all established themselves before being undone by Sri Lankan guile, including Thirimanne, who finished with two for 36 from seven overs of accurate dibbly-dobblies. As captain he unleashed the bowling shackles, having previously only bowled 50 ODI deliveries, including a best of one for 25 from 4.1 overs.
The teams stay in Dunedin for the sixth match of the series on Sunday.
