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NEW ZEALAND 360/5 (50 OVERS)
- Luke Ronchi*170 (99)
- Grant Elliott*104 (96)
- Nuwan Kulasekara2/71 (10)
- Lahiru Thirimanne2/36 (7)
SRI LANKA 252 (43.4 OVERS)
- Tillakaratne Dilshan116 (106)
- Lahiru Thirimanne45 (65)
- Grant Elliott2/42 (9)
- Trent Boult4/44 (10)
Commentator: Rohan Sharma
6.40 pm Quite a rarity to see two players selected as the Men of the Match, but it would have been tough to decide between the two as they both played equally decisive parts in this New Zealand victory. It was a memorable day for you stats fanatics as Ronchi pummeled the highest score by a No. 7 in ODI history, and the unbeaten 267-run sixth-wicket stand he shared with Elliott was the highest ever. Well that is it from the University Oval in Dunedin. We will be back here in just a couple of days' time for the sixth ODI. We sincerely hope you will be able to join us for that. Till then though, this is ESPNcricinfo saying sayonara!
Grant Elliott and Luke Ronchi , Men of the Match: It was great to see Ronchi go hard out there. It was good for both of us. We worked off each other, and we tried to be as relaxed as we could. Once things started flowing along we began to relax and have good fun out there. Ronchi doesn't get a lot of time at the end so it was nice for him to come in early and show how destructive he can be. It brings good confidence to the team to be able to come back from 90 for 5 and kick on from there. The wicket was doing a little bit with the new ball, but it definitely flattened out towards the end. Sunday should be a good deck to bat on as well.
Lahiru Thirimanne, Sri Lanka captain: It was a tough day as they were at one stage 90 for 5. We thought we could get them under 200. We didn't bowl to our bowling plan and that cost us. We thought it might turn a little bit because of the spongy bounce. But it didn't turn and our fast bowlers didn't really get it in the right area. We could have used another fast bowler which is why I bowled seven overs. The ball didn't turn so that was a mistake for us. Dilshan played really well for us. He has been scoring runs for us since the first match. We planned yesterday for me to open the batting but we have to get more responsibility as the three senior players are going really well. The youngsters have to step up for SL.
Brendon McCullum, New Zealand captain: It was a decent bowling performance in the end. We let SL dictate the game early on, so there is room for improvement there. Incredible batting performance from Luke and Elliott. Amazing how they got us to 360-odd. It didn't feel easy earlier on as they got the ball to seam around and move, but once it lost that it became easier to bat on. From 90-odd for 5 we had two guys step up and produce one of the best partnerships you will ever see in ODIs. Different guys stood up today, as Trent bowled really well with the new ball. Thought Tim was very good with the new ball as well. Thought Mitch came back really well, he needs to work at the start of his spell though, but he is becoming an instrumental part of the team. Looks like it might be flat on Sunday, but it would help to win the toss I am sure. Thought it was a great wicket, fast outfield, and a great crowd which the boys thoroughly enjoyed
So as it stands New Zealand wrap up an emphatic 108-run victory to take them 3-1 up. We will be back shortly with quotes from the match presentation
The New Zealand bowlers did not too bad in their innings, with Trent Boult the pick having taken 4 for 44. Dilshan did his very best to give his team a chance, compiling a useful 116, the second century of this series for him.
6.25pm So with that final blow New Zealand now take a 3-1 lead in the series, thereby ensuring that they can't possibly lose it with just two to go in the series. Sri Lanka did their best to keep themselves in this, but chasing 361 was always going to be a daunting task. Both Ronchi and Elliott lead the team off the field. Who would you pick as your Man of the Match?
RAS Lakmal b Southee 0 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Suranga Lakmal is the final batsman for Sri Lanka
FDM Karunaratne c BB McCullum b Southee 12 (16m 13b 1x4 0x6) SR: 92.3
Southee is back on now to replace Boult
END OF OVER:43 | 5 Runs | SL: 252/8 (109 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 5.86, RRR: 15.57)
- Dimuth Karunaratne12 (12b)
- Sachithra Senanayake3 (4b)
- Mitchell McClenaghan8-0-56-2
- Trent Boult10-0-44-4
CharlyPharly: "From this game you can say Boult is a first pick ahead of Southee, McClenaghan is expensive and Henry may be better, Taylor is out of form, Anderson is too expensive bowling. NZ has weaknesses, and the team that wins the world cup needs to iron out the weaknesses fast."
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