Kiwis crush Lanka in 357-run chase

  New Zealand cruised to a comfortable 6-wicket victory over Sri Lanka when they successfully chased a daunting target of 357 runs in the last round of the warm-up matches for the ICC Champions Trophy.

 Sri Lankan batsmen, riding on century from Upul Tharanga and fifties from Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal, reached a mammoth 356 for 7, their consecutive 300+ total in warm-up matches and that too in losing cause. There bowling faltered in front of Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson’s gritty knocks.

Ahead of their opener in the main draw of ICC Champions Trophy 2017, Black Caps have salvaged an easy win with two of their main batsmen coming back to full form. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will play their first game against South Africa and have lots to ponder upon especially in the bowling department.

Opting to bowl, New Zealand bowlers were hammered all over the park with Trent Boult leaking runs. Barring Mitchell Santner, Corey Anderson and Tim Southee, all the bowlers remained expensive as Sri Lanka piled up a mammoth 356 for 7 in 50 overs. Tharanga was breath taking in his 110-run knock with 13 fours and 3 sixes. Chandimal and Mendis notched up fifties, whereas the late flourish was provided by Kusal Perera and Seekkuge Prasanna.

-Agencies