***Official** Sri Lanka in New Zealand

[PhoenixFire]

Damn, Jayasuriya's out, that's my night's entertainment gone

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

He was out twice

 

[JBH001]

LOL!

Bl Phoenix - tbh, I would have been surprised if SJ had backed it up in this game.
(especially given the seamer friendly conditions and reported cold weather)

But maybe, hopefully, there will be another Jayasuriya special before the series ends.

 

[PhoenixFire]

It would be gun if it were to happen. One of the best players to watch when he's on form.

 

[JBH001]

Yes, I know!

Carnage personified!

btw, I really like your avatar!

(there's too many exclamation points in this post...)

 

[superkingdave]

I think i said it during the test series, but there are some really poor comm's on this series.

Some nice shots from Sanga though

 

[Matt52]

Sigh. Looks like James Marshall will open the batting with McCullum. So now we have two inexperienced "openers" chasing a target. And an inexperienced Taylor batting at 3, although there's no doubting his ability (unlike McCullum and J. Marshall).

Oh, and Peter Fulton batting at 4... When will Bracewell learn? This all-or-nothing approach from NZ is disappointing. I'm all for experimentation, and I thought having Taylor at 3 was just that. Two new openers, a new number 4, Vettori in the middle order... not to mention our bowling. (Seriously, why isn't Patel playing over Mason, Gillespie, or Adams?)

Yeah, Marshall opening is a bit of a shame. If Astle, an opener, is injured then surely an opener like Jesse Ryder should have come in.
I disagree with most of your post though.

McCullum has definite ability,

Taylor is not an experiment at 3, thats where he has always batted, and his domestic form has meant he should have been picked in the top team

Patel shouldnt play because we have to try players for at least two games. You cant just give a guy one game and then say "No" youre not good enough. Bond got 1 for 100 or so in his first test match. Give them an extended chance. I think 3 games is adequate so these guys should be picked for the next game. Maybe Bond for Adams. Adams has had plenty of chances.

McMillan should be batting at 4. He is wasted lower down. He cant get a decent score at 6 or 7. Just come in and get a quick 20 or 30 at most and thats not going to help his case for staying in the side.

 

[TT Boy]

Quality arm ball there from Daniel, good stuff from the New Zealanders other than the initial early bit of movement looks like a decent batting track. And I must say purely on an aesthetic level this ground is amazing, as picturesque as they come.

 

[Tim]

It really &(*&!! me off when we pick James Marshall as an opener. Its wasting an ODI to give someone like Jamie How a go if you ask me. How got a 50 on the same ground last year against Sri Lanka.

Bracewell can be really dumb at times.

I don't think NZ will want to chase anything over 230 though.

 

[TT Boy]

I think i said it during the test series, but there are some really poor comm's on this series.

Don’t mind them TBH, not the most analytical or insightful guys but they do tell some decent and rather amusing annotates about some of the New Zealand players. Only guy whose having a real ‘shocker’ is old Tony Cozier, who seemingly hasn’t watched any cricket involving Sri Lanka since the middle 90’s and his continuously getting everyone’s name wrong.

 

[Prince EWS]

I have a feeling that whoever bowls at the death here will get absolutely flogged. This innings has had the "steady build up before explosion" feeling about the the whole time.

 

[_Ed_]

I wanted NZ to get Sangakkara out but not like that. So unlucky.

Great innings.

 

[TT Boy]

Awful way to get out for Kumar, would have a been a fantastic hundred as it stands Sri Lanka still need at least another fifty or so.

 

[Nate]

Glad Mason and Gillespie have turned it around so well.

 

[meatspx]

Not too impressed by Mason, from what I've seen of him he isn't as consistent as what he should be at his pace....Good bowling from Gillespie though, he's been the best and has the biggest potential out of the 4 NZ quickies.

Good innings, and late-end recovery from Sri Lanka. I think the game is even at the moment, with the first 15 overs very important for NZ.

If Sri Lanka get 3-4 wickets then they would back themselves to go 2-0 up.
Should be a good chase.

 

[Prince EWS]

Glad Mason and Gillespie have turned it around so well.

Mason still bowled fairly poorly IMO. Gillespie was very impressive though.

 

[Matt52]

Cant believe McMillan is batting below Vettori. Thats just insane. They should give him a chance to make a decent score

 

[Prince EWS]

What the hell is going on? The world has gone crazy - James Marshall is looking good...

 

[Matt52]

Hope mcCullum gets a hundred today, Just for his record, it doesnt reflect his ability at the moment at all.

 

[Jono]

McCullum out. Fair jinx there Matt52 lol.