BLACKCAPS 315-7 (Kane Williamson 97, Ross Taylor 96, Corey Anderson 40, Dhammika Prasad 2-59) at the University Oval in Dunedin
Ross Taylor worked his way back to some of his best form today as he led the BLACKCAPS into a dominant position to complete the ANZ International Series win at the University Oval in Dunedin.
The 30-year-old from the Central Stags, who has struggled in recent time with the bat, built a patient innings of 96 from 102 balls with Kane Williamson (97 from 95 balls) in the middle of the order as they combined for a 117 run partnership.
Williamson, the most consistent of the BLACKCAPS batting line-up, crafted another fine innings before he was run out only three short of his fifth ODI century in a messy mix-up with Taylor.
The 24-year-old, who boasts an average of 43.78 from his 62 ODIs, was again a key contributor in his innings of 114 minutes that included eight fours and two sixes.
The onus then fell on the former skipper to carry on with the job and he did so, building a 78 run partnership with Corey Anderson (40 off 28 balls) to continue the momentum.
The BLACKCAPS, looking to back up their 108 run win from this ground two days ago, finished on 315-7 in an innings that built steadily, but never exploded in the hot summer Otago conditions.
Taylor was in the thick of it. He got back to some of his vintage form with a number of scything cuts through his favoured point region.
Later in the innings, he used his feet to hit two beautiful sixes down the ground to underline that he was feeling more at home.
He too was undone in the 90s when Tillakaratne Dilshan hit him on the front foot with a full toss to send him on his way. Taylor reviewed the decision, but he knew his fate and was already on the edge of the boundary when the dismissal was confirmed.
However, his innings will please Batting Coach Craig McMillan and Coach Mike Hesson no end as now all of the BLACKCAPS batting line-up have contributed to the scoring in this ANZ International Series.
Earlier, Sri Lankan skipper Lahiru Thirimanne lost the toss and BLACKCAPS captain Brendon McCullum opted to bat first.
Openers McCullum (1) and Martin Guptill (28) failed to take advantage of the favourable batting conditions before Williamson and Taylor set up the innings by batting time.
Anderson, the former world-record holder for the fastest ODI century (36 balls), delivered a stirring cameo of big hitting before he was caught on the long leg boundary.
Hesson re-shuffled the batting order and the hero from the 5th ANZ ODI, Luke Ronchi was met with a big round of applause from the Dunedin faithful.
The bully from the world-record partnership with Grant Elliott (267) got straight back into the groove with a boundary off his first ball, but he couldn’t recapture the magic and chipped one into the deep for 13 in the 48th over.
Elliott was joined briefly by Daniel Vettori, who today became the most capped BLACKCAP in ODI with 280 appearances, before the former captain was run out on 3. On the final ball of the innings, Kyle Mills went the same way without facing a ball.
The BLACKCAPS lead the ANZ International Series by 3 -1 and victory today will see them secure the series. The bowling unit will need to defend the total of 315-7 to get it done. It should be a great contest.
