Samaraweera, Malinga star in Sri Lanka’s 97-run win

COLOMBO - New Zealand batsmen failed to adjust to a slow pitch at the Premedasa Stadium as hosts Sri Lanka registered a comprehensive 97-run win in the first One-day International of the Compaq Cup here Tuesday.

Chasing a target of 217 runs, New Zealand batsmen paid heavily for playing some rash strokes on a difficult track and Kiwis were bowled out for 119 in 36.1 overs. Lasith Malinga wrecked the New Zealand batting with his four for 28 while Sanath Jayasuriya and Nuywan Kulasekara picked upo two wickets each.

But the star of the day was Man of the Match Thilan Samaraweera, who scored his maiden ODI century (104), and also forged a crucial partnership with youngster Angelo Matthews (51), after skipper Kumar Sangakkara opted to bat.

Samaraweera and Matthews stitched an important 127-run partnership for the sixth wicket after half the side was back in the pavilion for 69 runs in the 26th over. The duo helped Sri Lanka post a challenging 216 for seven in 50 overs.

Sri Lankan fast bowlers Malinga and Kulasekara were bang on target right from the start and New Zealand failed to recover from a poor start. Grant Elliot offered some resistance with his patient 41 while fast bowler Ian Butler scored 25.

Earlier in the day, the 32-year-old Samaraweera smashed 10 fours in his 124-ball innings as he became the oldest Sri Lankan to score a maiden one-day hundred.

New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond made an impressive return to one-day cricket with his 3-43 off 10 overs. The fast bowler was playing his first ODI after two years and didn’t allow the Sri Lankans a good start.