Sri Lanka registered their first win on the tour with an all-round performance in the second ODI in Hamilton. First, the spinners brought them back into the game after Brendon McCullum blazed away to a 99-ball 117. Then, Tillakaratne Dilshan held fort at one end and saw that the visitors chase down the 249 with the rest of the batters rallying around him. New Zealand after winning the first game, let go of the momentum and have allowed Sri Lanka back in the series. Their batting looks slightly vulnerable in the absence of Kane Williamson, who will be out injured for another two games. There is a lot of responsibility on the shoulders of Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor and New Zealand will be hoping that the other batters also step up.
Brendon McCullum will have a key role to play again. © Cricbuzz
Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews won the toss and decided to bowl first. The visitors made one change, including Dhammika Prasad in place of Rangana Herath. New Zealand made two changes, bringing in Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan for Trent Boult and Adam Milne.
Teams:
New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum(c), Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, Corey Anderson, Luke Ronchi(w), Daniel Vettori, Nathan McCullum, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Mitchell McClenaghan
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Dimuth Karunaratne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara(w), Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews(c), Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Dhammika Prasad
Martin Guptill struggled to get going, but Brendon McCullum had no such problems as he dealt in sixes to get New Zealand off to a positive start. His first maximum came in the second over when he charged down the track to Prasad and cleared the extra cover fence. Prasad was again the bowler when McCullum hit his second six, pulling one over the fine leg boundary in the 4th over. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka lost a review in the same over when they appealed unsuccessfully for a leg-before decision against Guptill. McCullum then managed his first two fours of the innings, both coming off Kulasekara in the 5th over. As Guptill spent some time at the crease, he was starting to look better.
McCullum's outing came to an end when Angelo Mathews, who brought himself on in the 8th over, struck off his first ball. The New Zealand opener tried to pull a shortish delivery, but got a top edge. Kulasekara ran to his left from short fine leg and took a good low running catch at backward square leg to send back McCullum on 28.
Guptill and Tom Latham managed a boundary each off Kulasekara in the 11th over as New Zealand crossed the 50-run mark. The second wicket pair started building a steady partnership as they kept the scorecard ticking. The pair added 48 runs to take New Zealand to 88/1 after 18 overs when rain stopped play. The rain eased after a while, only to return with greater intensity, further delaying the resumption of play.
Rain stopped play in Auckland. ©Reuters
The rain stopped after a while, the groundsmen did a good job by getting the field ready in quick time and play resumed with the match reduced to 47 overs per side. The conditions, however, were still overcast and the groundsmen were waiting past the boundary ropes. Latham and Guptill took a single each off Thisara Perera to bring up the half-century stand. Guptill managed his first maximum of the innings when he pulled a Perera delivery in the 21st over the deep square leg fence. The six also helped him bring up 3000 runs in ODIs. The 2nd wicket pair also helped New Zealand past 100 in the same over. Guptill went on to cross the half-century mark with a six over long-off in the 23rd over, which was bowled by Perera.
It was still drizzling and the wet outfield made it difficult for the bowlers to grip the ball. Skipper Mathews had a word with the umpires, but they decided to continue with the game. However, it was not long before the drizzle got heavier and the players were off the field again.
The second rain delay further reduced the match to a 43-overs a side affair. The disruption seemed to have affected Tom Latham's concentration. Almost immediately upon resumption, he chopped one from Angelo Mathews back onto his stumps. The south-paw was dismissed for 42 and the hosts were 139/2 after 27 overs.
Ross Taylor was looking to be positive but his innings was cut short after he shuffled across a long way across his stumps. He looked to work one from Mathews towards the on-side and missed. Umpire Nigel Llong had no hesitation in lifting the dreaded finger. Taylor immediately asked for the DRS, but replays suggested that the ball had ticked all the right boxes. Llong raised his finger for the second time and sent Taylor on his way, for 3. Almost immediately, rain returned and sent every one indoors, with New Zealand at 145/3 in the 29th over.
There was no respite from the rain, which got heavier and led to a further delay. The covers were firmly in place and the pictures did not look promising as plenty of water had accumulated on the ground.
Rain persisted and the match was eventually called off. The game ended as a no-result and New Zealand's final score was 145/3 in 28.5 overs with Martin Guptill unbeaten on 66. There was a slight drizzle when the play started but it relented to allow the match to get under way. New Zealand began well, and after McCullum's departure, Guptill combined with Latham to put on a 99-run stand for the second wicket. He also registered his 20th ODI fifty in the process. It was a start-stop affair after and the umpires decided to call it off.
Rain played spoilsport and the match was abandoned. ©Reuters