DUNEDIN (NEW ZEALAND), Jan 23 (AFP): A record batting blitz by Luke Ronchi and Grant Elliott set New Zealand up for an overwhelming 108-run win over Sri Lanka in their fifth one-day international in Dunedin today.
In a stunning display of power hitting, Ronchi (170 not out) and Elliott (104 not out) bludgeoned an unbeaten 267 to lift New Zealand from 93-5 to 360-5 in their 50 overs in a world record sixth-wicket stand.
Sri Lanka had their own century-maker in Tillakaratne Dilshan and looked to be in with a chance as long as he was at the crease.
But when Dilshan fell for 116 it sparked a spectacular collapse in which Sri Lanka lost eight wickets for just 41 runs in eight overs.
SCORECARD
New Zealand: M Guptill c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 0, B McCullum lbw Kulasekara 25, K Williamson c Sangakkara b Perera 26, R Taylor c Karunaratne b Thirimanne 20, G Elliott not out 104, C Anderson lbw Thirimanne 8, L Ronchi not out 170. Extras: (lb 1, w 6) 7. Total: (for 5 wickets, 50 overs) 360. Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-5, 3-60, 4-82, 5-93. Bowling: Kulasekara 10-0-71-2, Lakmal 10-0-93-0, Perera 10-0-49-1, Thirimanne 7-0-36-2, Senanayake 7-0-58-0, Mendis 2-0-21-0, Dilshan 4-0-31-0.
Sri Lanka: L Thirimanne c Taylor b Elliott 45, T Dilshan c N. McCullum b McClenaghan 116, K Sangakkara c N. McCullum b Elliott 9, M Jayawardene b Boult 30, N Kulasekara c Ronchi b Boult 3, J Mendis b Boult 18, D Chandimal c Ronchi b McClenaghan 0, T Perera c Williamson b Boult 0, D Karunaratne c McCullum b Southee 12, S Senanayake not out 3, S Lakmal b Southee 0. Extras: (b 4, lb 2, wd 10) 16. Total: (for 10 wickets, 43.4 overs) 252. Fall of wickets: 1-93, 2-141, 3-211, 4-215, 5-224, 6-233, 7-234, 8-245, 9-252, 10-252. Bowling: Southee 7.4-0-42-2, Boult 10-0-44-4, N. McCullum 4-0-21-0, McClenaghan 8-0-56-2, Elliott 9-0-42-2, Anderson 5-0-41-0.
