Sri Lanka ended New Zealand's unbeaten run at the World Cup with a six-wicket victory in a Super Eights match in Grenada yesterday.
Scott Styris had batted through nearly the whole New Zealand innings, making 111 not out from 157 balls as they reached 219 for 7 from their 50 overs.
But Sanath Jayasuriya (64) got Sri Lanka off to a rapid start, and added 100 with Kumar Sangakkara. After Jayasuriya was caught, Sangakkara (69 not out) saw them home, reaching 222 for 4 with nearly five overs to spare.
Sri Lanka were missing injured paceman Lasith Malinga, but Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan both picked up three wickets as their good all-round display contrasted with the Kiwis, who fielded sloppily after some careless shot selection in their innings.
Having come to the crease with New Zealand reeling at 4-2, Styris shared half-century stands with Peter Fulton (28), Jacob Oram (31) and James Franklin (25 not out) but no other player reached double figures.
New Zealand Innings
P G Fulton c L P C Silva b Vaas 28
S P Fleming lbw b Vaas 0
R L Taylor c Sangakkara b Vaas 0
S B Styris not out 111
C D McMillan c L P C Silva b Muralitharan 1
J D P Oram c Maharoof b Dilshan 31
B B McCullum lbw b Muralitharan 1
D L Vettori c L P C Silva b Muralitharan 5
J E C Franklin not out 25
Extras b2 lb2 w8 nb5 17
Total 7 wkts (50 overs) 219
Fall: 1-1, 2-4, 3-71, 4-77, 5-141, 6-145, 7-155.
Did Not Bat: S E Bond, M R Gillespie.
Bowling: Vaas 9 2 33 3; Fernando 7 2 31 0; Maharoof 6 0 31 0; Muralitharan 10 0 32 3; Jayasuriya 10 0 44 0; Dilshan 8 1 44 1.
Sri Lanka Innings
W U Tharanga c Bond b Franklin 11
S T Jayasuriya c McCullum b Oram 64
K C Sangakkara not out 69
D P M Jayawardene c Sub b Vettori 15
L P C Silva c Bond b Vettori 23
T M Dilshan not out 14
Extras b4 lb7 w7 nb8 pens 0 26
Total 4 wkts (45.1 overs) 220
Fall: 1-30, 2-130, 3-152, 4-180.
Did Not Bat: R P Arnold, W P U J C Vaas, M F Maharoof, C R D Fernando, M Muralitharan.
Bowling: Franklin 8-0-49-1; Bond 8-0-26-0; Gillespie 6.1-1-42-0; Vettori 10-0-35-2; Styris 7-1-28-0; Oram 6-0-31-1.
Sri Lanka won by six wickets.
