New Zealand stumble against spin

New Zealand stumble against spin

New Zealand v Sri Lanka, World Cup 2011, Group A, Mumbai

Sangakkara ton carries Sri Lanka to 265

Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara treated the Mumbai crowds to his 11th one-day hundred but New Zealand fought back with a flurry of late wickets to leave themselves 266 for victory at the Wankhede Stadium.

It was Sangakkara's first ODI century since June 2008 - a run stretching 64 matches - and alongside 66 from Mahela Jayawardene ensured New Zealand will need to surpass the record chase on this ground if they are to end on top.

The innings pivoted on a controversial moment in the 24th over, when Jayawardene chipped a return catch to Nathan McCullum. It went low to McCullum's right and the bowler dived full-length to scoop the ball centimetres off the turf. The batsman, however, stood his ground and the on-field umpires, Asad Rauf and Richard Kettleborough, opted to go upstairs. The side-on replay seemed to clearly show McCullum's fingers under the ball but a front-on shot, as it so often does, created doubt. Amiesh Saheba decided in favour of Jayawardene and New Zealand were denied a key wicket. Before then Jayawardene had struggled for 50 deliveries for 26 but added a further 40 at a run a ball.

New Zealand were visibly narked with both the decision and the batsman, who had not taken the word of the fielder as Jacques Kallis had done earlier in the tournament when Matt Prior held a low catch in South Africa's narrow defeat to England. The verbal exchanges served to fire Jayawardene up and he was soon exhibiting the fluent form that has deserted him since his century against Canada in Sri Lanka's opening game. His talents are all too familiar to New Zealand after Jayawardene denied them a place in the World Cup final four years ago with a stunning 115 not out at Sabina Park.

With Sangakkara serenely building a platform at the other end the third-wicket pair added 145 to hoist Sri Lanka out of early trouble and played the key hand in protecting the soft middle order for the major part of the innings.

The batting Powerplay brought Jayawardene's dismissal - missing a full ball from Tim Southee to be trapped in front - but also sparked Sangakkara's change of gear. In the following Southee over he creamed thee boundaries in successive balls to take him into the 90s before completing three figures in the next over from Jacob Oram. He fell for 111 soon after, however, missing an attempted slug across the line to McCullum and the questionable Sri Lankan middle order was unable to retain the momentum.

Sri Lanka lost five wickets for 55 after the fall of their captain as New Zealand wrestled back some control. Thilan Samaraweera was smartly held by Brendon McCullum standing up to the stumps off Scott Styris for 5 and Nathan McCullum finally had reason to smile after holding a juggling return catch to remove Chamara Silva for 3. McCullum finished with 2 for 48 but Sri Lanka's spin pairing, Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, would have watched his progress keenly. Had it not been for Angelo Mathews' late-over 41 from 35 balls, the collapse would have been much worse.

It meant New Zealand ended the innings with the same spring they started with. Southee and Oram had found zip with the new ball and Tillakaratne Dilshan had been pinned down - making 3 from 14 balls - before top-edging a hook shot to third man. His opening partner, Upul Tharanga, was almost as unlucky to fall as Jayawardene was fortunate to survive. Dilshan had scorched back a drive at Southee who deflected it into the stumps to leave Tharanga cruelly short before the experienced third-wicket pairing took over.

Unlike the frenzied excitement of Group B, the qualifiers are already certain from the pedestrian Group A, but the winner of this game will be guaranteed a top-two finish in the group to set a possible knockout date with England. At the half-way stage, both teams will back themselves to do it.