Match report: Sri Lanka wins super over thriller

Source: AFP

• Sri Lanka 174/6 (Dilshan 76, Jayawardene 44) defeated New Zealand 174/7 (Nicol 58, Guptil 38) in a super over eliminator.

Summary:

A stifling super over from paceman Lasith Malinga has lifted Sri Lanka to victory in the best game of the T20 World Cup so far. After the scores were tied at the end of the Sri Lankan innings, both teams got to face one extra over to decide the outcome of the match. Sri Lanka took advantage of some wayward bowling from Kiwi Tim Southee (3 wides) to set New Zealand a target of 14 for victory. Malinga then produced a perfect example of death bowling to restrict the New Zealanders to just seven runs. This came after a dramatic finish to the end of the Sri Lankan innings. Needing just one run to win off the final ball Lahiru Thirimanne mis-hit the ball out to the point region, the return came in to Kiwi captain Ross Taylor, who fumbled the ball but deflected it onto the stumps, running out Thirimanne and forcing the super over.

That's what we're talking about:

After a fairly dreary opening week, this match has brought the tournament to life. This match had many twists and turns, with both teams having opportunities to seize the game by the scruff of the neck, only to be stymied by tenacious fight backs by the opposing side. New Zealand will be rueing the moderate finish it had to its innings, while Sri Lanka will be thankful they were still able to scrape a win after Tillakaratne Dilshan had seemingly set them on their way to victory in the regular 20 over period.

Who's hot:

Sri Lanka: Malinga came through twice for Sri Lanka. He came on at the end on the New Zealand innings and conceded only 14 runs from his last two overs, as well as bowling the pivotal super over. When Dilshan is in form, as he was in this game, he takes Sri Lanka from a team that is around the mark to a potential winner of the World Cup.

New Zealand: Opener Rob Nicol continued his good form notching a half-century as well as blasting  ball into the face of debutant spinner Akila Dananjaya. New Zealand's entire top order are in good touch, accounting for 121 of New Zealand's total of 174.

What it means:

Sri Lanka: Starting with a win sets up Sri Lanka well for the rest of the Super Eight stage. The can control their own destiny in the tournament and not be reliant on other results having to go their way.

New Zealand: Behind the eight-ball somewhat, but such a tight loss won't affect their net run-rate (the measure used to split teams equal on points). Will have to most likely win their remaining games to progress, but are in the form to do so.

The Votes:

MVP: 3- T Dilshan (top scorer and took a catch in the super over), 2- R Nicol (laid  foundation of Kiwi total), 1- L Malinga (came up big at the death for the Lankans)

Tucker Trophy: 1- N McCullum (not a great day with bat or ball), 2- A Mendis (went for 48 off 4 overs), 3- T Southee (feel sorry for the guy but went for 44 off 4 overs and bowled a poor super over)