2nd ODI Sri Lanka vs New Zealand: McCullum blitz leads Kiwis to last-ball win

A final-over blitz by Nathan McCullum gave New Zealand a thrilling last-ball victory by four wickets over Sri Lanka in the rain-hit second one-day international on Tuesday.

The victory gave New Zealand a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

After a five-hour stoppage for bad weather, the game was reduced to 23 overs a side with the Kiwis set 198 to win under the Duckworth Lewis method. They finished on 203 for six.

With 20 needed off the last over, McCullum hit left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for three sixes and a four off the final four balls.

McCullum scored 32 not out off nine balls and opener Tom Latham also played his part with a fiery 86 off 68 deliveries, for which he was named man-of-the-match.

The target looked a tough task for New Zealand after Sri Lanka had scored 138 for one in 23 overs when Nuwan Kulasekara reduced them to eight for two in the second over.

But a fifth-wicket partnership of 93 off 57 balls between Latham and Luke Ronchi, who made 49 off 26 balls, brought New Zealand back into the match.

Kulasekara returned to dismiss both men in the 21st over but New Zealand held their nerve and McCullum put the finishing touches to their chase.

Earlier, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara shared their second century partnership in a row until bad weather intervened, Dilshan scoring an unbeaten 55 off 72 balls and Sangakkara 71 not out off 59

The third and final one-dayer will be played at Dambulla on Saturday.

NEW ZEALAND INNINGS

New Zealand pulled off a four-wicket win against Sri Lanka in the second One-Day International played under floodlights in Hambantota on Tuesday.

The match which was reduced to 23-over-a-side due to bad weather saw the visitors reach their D/L target of 198 after the target was revised when Sri Lanka scored 131 for 1.

Tom Latham led the way with a half century and then Luke Ronchi and Nathan McCullum put the icing on the cake after Nuwan Kulasekara had done a good job of bagging four wickets.

Latham plays a tired-looking shot to Senanayake at extra cover, a fighting knock coming to an end.

Tom Latham c Senanayake b Kulasekara 86 (68b, 11x4, 1x6)

Ronchi, after a few hits and misses, tried to loft Kulasekara but holes out to Dilshan.

Luke Ronchi c Dilshan b Kulasekara 49 (26b, 7x4, 1x6)

Malinga gets Sri Lanka back in the match with a tidy over, conceding just four runs despite bowling two wides. NZ 161 for 4 after 20 overs.

Kulasekara is meted some harsh treatment from Latham and Ronchi, goes for 17 runs. NZ 148 for 4 after 18 overs. 

Latham and Ronchi plunder runs at will. NZ 131 for 4 after 17 overs, need 67 from 36 balls.

Latham and Ronchi bring up the 50-run partnership off 32 balls.

Malinga too proves expensive going for 13 runs. NZ need 82 from 42 balls.

Latham goes after Herath getting 15 runs as NZ try to make a chase of it, needing 95 from 48 balls.

Run rate seems to be piling up as NZ need another 98 from 50 balls.

Munro was looking dangerous but holed out to Thirimanne at mid-on off Senanayake. NZ 77 for 4 after 12 overs. Need another 121 from 66 balls. 

Colin Munro c  Thirimanne b Senanayake 15 (12b, 1x4, 1x6)

Munro and Latham putting up a good partnership. NZ 66 for 3 after 10 overs needing 132 from 78 balls.

Munro does a repeat, switch-hitting Senanayake for a four this time. NZ 60 for 3 after 9 overs.

Colin Munro lofts Senanayake for a six.

Latham goes after Dilshan in his first over hitting him for three fours. NZ 47 for 3 after 8 overs, need another 151 from 90 balls.

Sachithra Senanayake foxes Elliott who steps out to loft him and is deceived. Sangakkara does the cleaning up act. NZ 34 for 3 after 7 overs.

Grant Elliott stumped Sangakkara b Senanayake 7 (13b, 1x4, 0x6)

Latham and Elliott score at almost a run-a-ball but much more is needed from the two. NZ 33 for 2 after 6 overs.

Malinga is brought back into the attack and has both Tom Latham and Grant Elliott in trouble with short balls. NZ 27 for 2 after 5 overs.

Latham finds the gap between covers to hit Kulasekara for a boundary. NZ 18 for 2 after 4 overs.

Skipper Angelo Mathews gets himself into the attack after bowling Malinga for just one over. NZ 13 for 2 after 3 overs.

Kulasekara is on fire here after getting Nicol too to give Sangakkara an easy catch. NZ 9 for 2 after three overs.

Rob Nicol c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 0 (1b, 0x4, 0x6)

Nuwan Kulasekara strikes in his very second ball getting Devcich to edge one behind to Sangakkara. NZ 8 for 1.

Anton Devcich c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 1 (4b, 0x4, 0x6)

Anton Devcich and Tom Latham begin New Zealand's innings requiring to score at over 8 runs per over.

SRI LANKA INNINGS

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara hit half centuries to guide Sri Lanka to 138 for 1 against New Zealand in the second ODI match which was reduced to 23-overs-a-side due to bad weather at Hambantota, Sri Lanka, on Tuesday.

New Zealand will now face a revised target of 198 according to the D/L method.

Dilshan was unbeaten on 55 from 72 balls (9x4) and Sangakkara was on 71 from 59 balls (9x4) as the duo put on 125 runs for the unbroken second wicket parternship.

The two came together at the fall of opener Dimuth Karunaratne's wicket, who fell to New Zealand's stand-in captain Kyle Mills for the second time in the series. 

Sangakkara makes full use of some loose deliveries by Neesham to hit two fours, both behind the wickets.

It's official as it's going to be a 23-overs-a-side match which means Sri Lanka will face another two overs.

New Zealand bowlers are warming up which means Sri Lankan batsmen will get a few overs.

The wait continues as the stumps are erected and the drying around the bowling areas are on but everyone is waiting for some action.

It looks like a 20-20 encounter is on the cards. The crowds will love it no doubt as they deserve a result after a long wait.

The umpires are out in the middle once again for another inspection as the rain stops and the covers are taken off.

The umpires have come out for an inspection although the covers have not been taken off.

There is a slight drizzle but the lightning continues unabated.

Dilshan and Sangakkara were going great guns when the umpires halted play because of thunder and lightning.

Dilshan was batting on 51 (65b, 9x4) and Sanga 55 (52b, 6x4) and their unbeaten partnership is 105 for the second wicket.

It hasn't started raining yet but it is certainly raining runs from the blades of Dilshan and Sangakkara.

Thunder and lightning force the umpires to stop play. Lanka 117 for 1 after 20.3 overs.

Sangakkara gets to his 50 as the second-wicket partnership is worth 100 runs. 

Dilshan notches his 32nd fifty and fifth this year as Lanka are 110 for 1 after 19 overs.

Rob Nicol's concedes 10 runs in his first over. Lanka 104 for no one after 18 overs.

Groundsmen seem ready with the covers as dark clouds hover around the stadium. 

Sangakkara reaches 1,000 runs this year in ODIs.

Dilshan and Sangakkara motoring along as Lanka each 87 for 1 after 16 overs.

Dark clouds loom over as floodlights are on. Lanka 78 for 1 after 15 overs.

Dilshan and Sangakkara involved in 50 run partnership. Lanka 68 for 1 after 12 overs.

NZ make another bowling change with Anton Devcich replacing Milne.

Nathan McCullum replaces Kyle Mills. Lanka 58 for one after 11 overs.

Sri Lanka bring up the 50 from 43 balls after the loss of opener Karunaratne early in the innings.

Mills bowls a maiden. Lanka 43 for 1 after nine overs.

Sangakkara and Dilshan seem to be settling down nicely. Lanka 43 for 1 after eight overs.

Jimmy Neesham repacing Milne begins with a wide ball.

Sangakkara plays a trademark shot through extra cover and mid-off for a four. Lanka 37 for one after seven overs.

Milne goes for five runs from his third over. Sri Lanka 29 for one after six overs.

Kumar Sangakkara looking in good nick as Sri Lanka move to 24 for 1 after five overs.

Dilshan hammers Milne for two fours to up the tempo. Lanka 20 for 1 after four overs.

New Zealand's stand-in captain gets Karunaratne again, forcing him to clip one off his pads to Neesham at short mid-wicket. 

Dimuth Karunaratne c Neesham b Mills 4 (8b, 0x4, 0x6)

Dilshan hits back-to-back boundaries off Adam Milne. Lanka 12 for no loss after two overs.

New Zealand have made two changes. All-rounder Corey Anderson has been ruled out due to injury. Jimmy Neesham replaces him.

Mitchell McLenaghan is out and Andrew Ellis comes in his place, while Sri Lanka will be playing the same XI as the first ODI.

PLAYING XI:

Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Thilan Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suchithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga.

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Anton Devcich, Rob Nicol, Grant Elliott, Colin Munro, Luke Ronchi (wk), Nathan McCullum, James Neesham, Kyle Mills (capt), Adam Milne, Andrew Ellis.

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews has won the toss and elected to bat as the second ODI is scheduled to start in another 20 minutes.

Although there has been no rain, conditions are still overcast at Hambantota.

Three of the last four ODIs have been washed out at Hambantota.

Rain could play spoilsport yet again in the second one-day international between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Hambantota on Tuesday.

The first match at the same venue on Sunday was abandoned with New Zealand 13-1 in 4.2 overs chasing a target of 289.

Sri Lanka were fortunate to get some batting practice with Tillakaratne Dilshan (81), Kumar Sangakkara (79) and skipper Angelo Mathews (74 not out) hittting contrasting half centuries to light up a gloomy day.

Rain is predicted during the morning and there is hope for at least a reduced overs game since it is another day-night match.

TEAMS

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Perera, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis, Ashan Priyanjan

New Zealand: Kyle Mills (captain), Corey Anderson, Anton Devcich, Grant Elliott, Andrew Ellis, Tom Latham (wk), Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Rob Nicol, Luke Ronchi, Hamish Rutherford
 

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