Sri Lanka have levelled the One Day series against New Zealand A 1-1, after beating the visitors by 44 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Rain meant that New Zealand were given a revised target of 241 from 40 overs for victory, but they fell well short at 196 for seven. Earlier, Sri Lanka had started their innings strongly to help them reach 291 for nine from their allocated overs.
The opening pair of Kusal Perera (65) and Dimuth Karunaratne (81) put on 108 for the first wicket to lay the foundations for the innings, before further cameos from Angelo Perera (36) and Chaturanga de Silva (36) lifted them towards the 300 mark.
Adam Milne was brilliant for New Zealand A with the ball, picking up a five-wicketbag with figures of five for 61 from nine overs. Andrew Ellis also picked up two wickets and bowled his ten overs for 40 runs.
In reply New Zealand lost wickets all too regularly. After falling to 68 for four, Grant Elliot (63) and Luke Ronchi (22) began to make up ground, while Daryl Mitchell (36) also joined the fight-back following Ronchi’s dismissal.
It wouldn’t be enough though, with Sri Lanka’s bowlers making breakthroughs at crucial times. Seekkuge Prasanna matched Milne’s effort with a five-wicketbag of his own.
The third and final match on Thursday night (NZ time) will decide the series.
