Tharanga half-century sets up Sri Lanka victory

DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) – Opener Upul Tharanga  hit a well-paced 70 to lay the foundations for Sri Lanka’s  three-wicket win over New Zealand in the second match of the  Tri-series yesterday.

The hosts coasted past New Zealand’s total of 192 in the  41st over to win under lights.

Tharanga and captain Kumar Sangakkara (48) added 85 for the  second wicket before Sri Lanka wobbled as Kyle Mills claimed  four for 41.

Lasith Malinga took his 100th one-day wicket for Sri Lanka  when he dismissed Martin Guptill with the second ball of New  Zealand’s innings.

Opener Bradley-John Watling top-scored for New Zealand with  55.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by three wickets

New Zealand innings

BJ Watling c Sangakkara b Mathews                            55
M. Guptill c Kapugedera b Malinga                                0
R. Taylor lbw b Mathews                                                  16
K. Williamson c Samaraweera b Mathews                   0
S. Styris c Jayawardene b Herath                                 24
G. Hopkins c Kapugedera b Malinga                             11
N. McCullum c Herath b Mendis                                   36
D. Tuffey b Malinga                                                               0
K. Mills c Mathews b Herath                                            11
T. Southee c Dilshan b Kulasekara                                13
A. McKay not out                                                                   4
Extras: (b-5, lb-4, nb-3, w-10)                                       22
Total: (all out, 48.1 overs)                                             192
Fall of wickets: 1-2 2-47 3-47 4-99 5-101 6-123 7-123 8-143  9-178 10-192
Bowling: Malinga 10-1-35-3, Kulasekara 8.1-1-35-1, Mathews  10-1-36-3, Mendis 10-0-42-1, Herath 10-0-35-2.

Sri Lanka innings
U. Tharanga c Watling b Mills                                         70
T. Dilshan c and b Mills                                                         5
K. Sangakkara c Guptill b Styris                                      48
M. Jayawardene c Taylor b McCullum                           5
T. Samaraweera not out                                                     36
A. Mathews c Taylor b Mills                                                0
N. Kulasekara c Hopkins b Southee                                 7
R. Herath c Taylor b Mills                                                    2
C. Kapugedera not out                                                          9
Extras: (b-4, lb-1, w-8)                                                       13
Total: (seven wickets, 40.5 overs)                              195
Fall of wickets: 1-11 2-96 3-119 4-162 5-164 6-177 7-180
Did not bat: A. Mendis, L. Malinga
Bowling: Mills 9.5-1-41-4 (2-w), Tuffey 5-0-31-0 (1-w),  Southee 6-0-41-1 (3-w), McKay 4-0-26-0, McCullum 7-0-23-1,  Williamson 1-0-6-0 (2-w), Styris 8-0-22-1.